PennDOT, the Pennsylvania State Police, and a number of Newtown-area police departments are teaming up to tackle aggressive driving.
The enforcement wave, which kicked off this week and is scheduled to continue through April 28, seeks to cut down on the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities attributed to aggressive driving on area roads.
The enforcement effort spans across Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. It includes more than 80 local police departments.
In Lower Bucks County, the Bensalem Township, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Falls Township, Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township, Morrisville Borough, Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, Northampton Borough, Penndel Borough, and Upper Southampton Township police departments are taking part.
According to officials, the focus will be primarily on combating distracted driving, speeding, and promoting work zone safety awareness among motorists.
Authorities have warned that drivers engaging in unsafe behaviors, such as excessive speed, tailgating, or other forms of aggressive driving, will face tickets.
A number of enforcement techniques, including traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, and multi-jurisdictional patrols, will be used during the enforcement wave.
The enforcement is part of Pennsylvania’s Highway Safety Program and uses federal funding allocated by PennDOT from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
PennDOT officials said the goal is to reduce incidents of aggressive driving.
Data from 2013 shows 1,297 aggressive driving crashes recorded across the targeted counties. The crashes resulted in 39 fatalities and 99 severe injuries, according to PennDOT.
If you encounter an aggressive driver, PennDOT offered the below tips:
- Get out of their way and don’t challenge them.
- Stay relaxed, avoid eye contact, and ignore rude gestures.
- Don’t block the passing lane if you drive slower than most traffic.
- Do not attempt to follow or pursue the vehicle. You or a passenger may call the police. But, if you use a cell phone, pull over to a safe location.
