A number of local police departments, PennDOT, and the Pennsylvania State Police have kicked off a collaborative enforcement effort targeting aggressive driving in Lower Bucks County.
The enforcement campaign runs through Sunday, November 10, and looks to curb the high rates of crashes, injuries, and fatalities associated with reckless driving behaviors.
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 Township, Penndel Borough, and Upper Southampton Township police departments are joining troopers.
Officials have stated that the focus will be on compliance with Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law, school bus safety, and preventing speeding and tailgating.
Drivers found engaging in unsafe practices such as driving too fast for conditions or other aggressive maneuvers will face citations, officials said.
The number of methods will be used, including traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, corridor enforcement, work zone enforcement, and multi-jurisdictional patrols.
Officials said the enforcement is designed to identify and deter aggressive drivers before more serious incidents happen.
PennDOT has advised the public to respond to encounters with aggressive drivers by staying calm, avoiding confrontation, and keeping clear of the fast lane if driving slower than the flow of traffic. For those witnessing aggressive driving, it is recommended to safely pull over before calling law enforcement to report the incident.
Funding for the enforcement comes from PennDOT’s allocation of federal funds provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as part of Pennsylvania’s broader Highway Safety Program.
Recent data from PennDOT showed 1,367 crashes involving aggressive driving recorded in 2023 across Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.
The crashes led to 39 fatalities and 104 suspected serious injuries, PennDOT said.
“The goal of targeted enforcement is to reduce the number of aggressive driving-related crashes, injuries, and deaths on roadways throughout the state. Any aggressive driver stopped by police will receive a ticket,” a PennDOT statement said.
For more information on aggressive driving prevention and other safety initiatives, visit PennDOT’s website at PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.
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