More than 80 Philadelphia-area police departments embark on enforcement of aggressive driving

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving. 

This is why more than 80 municipal police departments in Southeast Pennsylvania are joining the Pennsylvania State Police to combat aggressive driving. The coordinated enforcement wave will target speeding, tailgating, red light running, pedestrian safety, and heavy truck violations. 

The collective effort comes as Pennsylvania motorists notice more close calls with cars weaving in and out of highway lanes, passing illegally on the right, or failing to yield to oncoming vehicles. 

A graphic displaying the most common examples of aggressive driving. (Credit: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation)

Tara Patel, 20, is a University of Florida student from Lafayette Hill, PA, who has experience driving in both Pennsylvania and Florida. 

“I definitely feel like the driving here is more aggressive,” said Patel. “On the highways, I notice a lot of times cars cutting you off way too close to the front of your car, or zipping in and out of lanes.” 

“It makes me nervous driving on the roads,” she said.  

In order to mitigate the various forms of aggressive driving, law enforcement plans to utilize traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, corridor enforcement, and speed enforcement details, among other strategies, to identify aggressive drivers. Aggressive drivers stopped by the police will receive a ticket. 

Police departments from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties will participate in the collective effort, which runs through August 17. 

Based on 2024 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) crash data, in the greater Philadelphia region, there were 1,608 aggressive driving crashes, resulting in 43 fatalities and 99 suspected serious injuries in the Southeast Pennsylvania region. 

Using federal funds from the NHTSA, the goal of the targeted initiative is to reduce the number of aggressive driving-related crashes, injuries, and deaths on the road. 

PennDOT offers the following tips for dealing with an aggressive driver. These guidelines could help motorists avoid escalation into a road rage situation, which involves assault or a dangerous weapon and is linked to about 30 murders annually:

• 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. 

To learn more about PennDOT's highway safety efforts, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.