More than 50 percent of the crashes the Arlington Police Department investigates involve some form of aggressive driving such as speeding, making unsafe lane changes, or tailgating.
The department's Traffic Division is always on the lookout for aggressive drivers and makes a concerted effort to correct drivers' dangerous behaviors before they result in death or serious injury.
But officers can't be everywhere at once, which is why APD has developed multiple ways for members of the public to report aggressive drivers they encounter on Arlington roadways.
For several years now, the department has operated a non-emergency Road Rage Hotline that members of the public can call by dialing (817) 459-5389 to report aggressive drivers.
This week, the department launched a new online aggressive driver reporting tool where community members can submit a report via the APD website. You can find the form by visiting ArlingtonPD.org, selecting Self-Service from the Reporting tab, then clicking on Submit a Road Rage / Aggressive Driving Report Online.
When using the hotline or the online reporting tool, you'll be asked to provide information about where you witnessed the aggressive driving behavior, the driver's vehicle and license plate, and what you saw.
Using that information, the department will attempt to identify the registered owner of the vehicle -- and if successful, will mail them a letter notifying them that they were reported for aggressive driving and encouraging them to drive safely.
"The goal of this is to make drivers more aware of their driving behaviors and get them to correct the bad ones," said Lieutenant Brian Garcia, Commander of the APD Traffic Division. "Aggressive driving and road rage don't just impact those involved. They present real danger to everyone on our roadways. We want to keep our roadways safe for our residents and visitors -- and so we ask drivers to let cooler heads prevail."
The hotline and online reporting tool are for non-emergencies only. If you are involved in or witness an incident involving a firearm, other weapons, or damage to a vehicle, you should always call 911 immediately.
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