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WHAT IS THE AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS RESPONSE TEAM? In early May 2007, Mayor Greg Nickels and Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske announced the formation of a special traffic unit that will target aggressive and dangerous drivers on Seattle streets. The goal of the ten-member Aggressive Drivers Response Team (ADRT) is to improve pedestrian and driver safety across the city. All of the members of the ADRT squad were selected from the Traffic Unit and are extensively trained in emergency vehicle operation. They target areas that are known for aggressive driving and will also work chronic community traffic complaints, school zone violations and conduct pedestrian emphasis. The officers will be driving the latest addition to the Seattle Police Department fleet, the 2007 Dodge Charger, which are equipped with digital video cameras integrated with an onboard mobile data computer. WHY SPECIFICALLY TARGET AGGRESSIVE DRIVING? The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration estimates that about one-third of all crashes and about two-thirds of the resulting fatalities can be attributed to aggressive driving. Hallmarks of aggressive driving includes excessive speed, frequent or unsafe lane changes, tailgating, disregarding traffic control devices, cutting off other drivers, obscene hand gestures as well as making threats or yelling profanities. For more information on traffic statistics, road rage and aggressive driving, log onto the NHTSA website at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. |
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