PennDOT announced today that Abington, Cheltenham, Jenkintown, Lower Moreland, Springfield, and Upper Moreland police will join the Pennsylvania State Police in a coordinated aggressive driving enforcement wave which runs through August 18.
Any aggressive driver stopped by police will receive a ticket. The campaign “is aimed at reducing the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on our area roadways, ensuring your safety on the road,” PennDOT said in a statement.
“The enforcement wave will target heavy truck violations, pedestrian safety, red light running, and tailgating. Motorists demonstrating unsafe behaviors, such as driving too fast for conditions or other aggressive actions, will also be cited,” the department said.
Police will deploy traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, corridor enforcement, work zone enforcement, and multi-jurisdictional patrol to identify and cite aggressive drivers, PennDOT said.
If you encounter an aggressive driver, PennDOT offers these 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.
According to 2023 PennDOT crash data, there were 1,363 aggressive driving crashes, resulting in 39 fatalities and 104 suspected serious injuries in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.
Aggressive driving crashes involve at least two aggressive driving factors in the same crash. Factors include, but are not limited to, running stop signs or red lights, tailgating, careless turning or passing, and driving too fast for conditions.
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