Drivers who tailgate and speed should be careful. Area police are keeping an eye out for aggressive behavior on the roads during a statewide crackdown.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced on Monday that over 80 departments in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties will join the State Police “in a coordinated aggressive driving enforcement wave to help decrease the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on area roads as part of a statewide mobilization until April 28,” according to a PennDOT press release.
According to PennDOT, Police will specifically focus on distracted driving, speeding, and work zone awareness. “Motorists showing unsafe behaviors such as driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, or other aggressive actions will also be given citations.”
“Traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, corridor enforcement, work zone enforcement, and multi-jurisdictional patrol strategies” will be used to identify aggressive drivers.
PennDOT provides these tips if you come across an aggressive driver:
- Move out of their way and don’t confront them.
- Stay calm, avoid making eye contact, and disregard rude gestures.
- If you drive slower than most traffic, don’t block the passing lane.
- Do not try to follow or chase the vehicle. Instead, you or a passenger can call the police. However, if you use a cell phone, pull over to a safe spot.
Preliminary 2023 crash data suggests that there were 1,297 aggressive driving crashes, leading to 39 deaths and 99 suspected severe injuries in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. These crashes involve a minimum of two aggressive driving factors in the same incident, which can include running stop signs or red lights, tailgating, careless turning or passing, and driving too fast for conditions.
The aim of targeted enforcement is to reduce the number of aggressive driving-related crashes, injuries, and deaths on roads throughout Pennsylvania. Any aggressive driver stopped by police will receive a ticket.
To find out more about aggressive driving and other safety projects by PennDOT, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.
The authorities participating in the targeted enforcement are:
Bucks County:
Bedminster Township
Bensalem Township
Bristol Borough
Bristol Township
Buckingham Township
Doylestown Township
Falls Township
Hilltown Township
Lower Southampton Township
Middletown Township
Morrisville Borough
New Britain Township
New Hope Borough
Newtown Borough
Newtown Township
Northampton Township
Penndel Borough
Plumstead Township
Quakertown Borough
Richland Township
Solebury Township
Tinicum Township
Upper Southampton Township
Warrington Township
Warwick Township
Montgomery County:
Abington Township
Bridgeport Borough
Cheltenham Township
Collegeville Borough
Conshohocken Borough
Douglas Township
East Norriton Township
Franconia Township
Hatfield Township
Jenkintown Borough
Limerick Township
Lower Merion Township
Lower Moreland Township
Lower Pottsgrove Township
Lower Providence Township
Lower Salford Township
Marlborough Township
Montgomery Township
New Hanover Township
Norristown Borough
Plymouth Township
Pottstown Borough
Springfield Township
Towamencin Township
Upper Dublin Township
Upper Gwynedd Township
Upper Merion Township
Upper Moreland Township
Upper Pottsgrove Township
Upper Providence Township
West Norriton Township
Whitpain Township
Philadelphia County:
City of Philadelphia
Chester County:
Downingtown Borough
East Coventry Township
East Pikeland Township
Easttown Township
North Coventry Township
Southern Chester County Region
Tredyffrin Township
Uwchlan Township
Valley Township
West Brandywine Township
West Chester Borough
West Goshen Township
Westtown-East Goshen Township
West Whiteland Township
Willistown Township
Delaware County:
Alden Borough
Aston Township
Chester City
Chester Township
Eddystone Borough
Glenolden Borough
Haverford Township
Lansdowne Borough
Marple Township
Newtown Township
Radnor Township
Ridley Township
Sharon Hill Borough
Springfield Township
Upland Borough
Upper Darby Township
Upper Providence Township
Yeadon Borough
