Officers on alert during Operation Safe Drivers Week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - This is Operation Safe Drivers Week. That means Missouri highway officials are on the lookout for aggressive drivers.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is a couple of days into the effort. While officials monitor the roads, they also hope to raise awareness about startling statistics.

There are 9.4 million young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 driving on the highways. They make up about 4.7 percent of the total number of licensed drivers, but are involved in about 10 percent of fatal accidents and 13 percent of all accidents.

The department of transportation said law enforcement agencies plan to pay special attention to safety rules as they raise awareness about safe driving this week.

State transportation officials urge motorists to put down phones and pay attention while driving to avoid blind spots of larger trucks.

Operation safe drive week started Sunday and continues through Saturday.