1st Sgt. Stewart Cumbo, Assistant Commander of the Maryland State Police Prince Frederick Barrack and Debbie Jennings, Coordinator, Calvert County Traffic Safety Council, participated in the Smooth Operator Spring Statewide Meeting for Law Enforcement at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum on May 8.

This year’s meeting unveiled the upcoming public education components of the program in addition to highlighting enforcement waves and media events.

Several international guests from the United Arab Emirates included high ranking members of the Abu Dhabi Police Department were in attendance to learn about the Smooth Operator Program. Members of the UAE looked for new innovative programs here in the United States to implement in their country to combat their burgeoning highway safety issues.

Smooth Operator is a unique public safety initiative. It is a partnership of law enforcement, public safety officials and other experts in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia.  Smooth Operator is a model for a coordinated, intra-and interstate program designed to combat the aggressive driving problem and find short and long-term solutions for it. The public education component of the program coupled with enforcement efforts has been in place for over 8 years.

Aggressive driving occurs when an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses that endangers other people or property.  Aggressive driving behaviors include a variety of dangerous driving maneuvers to include: speeding; tailgating; running red lights and stop signs; improper passing and weaving.

Speed is the primary factor in aggressive driving behavior – and is also a factor in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes.