Uniontown, PA – Today the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced the designation of Route 40 in Wharton Township, Fayette County, as an official highway safety corridor. A highway safety corridor is a portion of a highway determined by a traffic study to be targeted for the application of signs, increased levels of enforcement and increased penalties specifically for the purpose of eliminating or reducing unsafe driver behaviors that are known to result in crashes and fatalities.
This section of Route 40 has been identified as a critical location for enhanced safety measures due to its historical higher-than-average crash rates. On this section of Route 40 from 2009 to 2023, there were 563 crashes, 17 of those fatal resulting in 19 deaths, according to PennDOT data. Of those crashes 276 were the result of DUI, speeding, and aggressive driving.
“This new designation for Route 40 reflects our commitment to improving safety for all motorists and reducing the risk of crashes on our roadways,” said PennDOT District 12 Executive Rachel Duda. “We are taking proactive steps to protect lives and make travel on Route 40 safer for everyone.”
Within the limits of the marked highway safety corridor, motorists will be subject to increased levels of enforcement and increased penalties for moving violations relating to unsafe driving behaviors. Signs announcing the beginning and end of the corridor, along with the message that fines are doubled, have been installed.
“We encourage all drivers to stay alert, follow posted speed limits, and adhere to all traffic laws, especially when traveling through designated safety corridors,” said Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Michael Irwin. “We are increasing our presence to monitor and enforce these laws and will cite those who violate them.”
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/district12.
Information about infrastructure in District 12, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D12Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Swecker, eswecker@pa.gov or 724-425-3018
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