Philadelphia, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Police Department, and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia are urging safe driving for the statewide aggressive driving enforcement wave.
A coordinated enforcement day is scheduled on Friday, March 28, along U.S. 1 in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties to emphasize the importance of safe driving.
"Ensuring safety on our roadways is everyone's responsibility," said PennDOT District 6 Executive Din Abazi. "While PennDOT often urges drivers to slow down, buckle up, and avoid distractions or driving under the influence, it's equally important to stay calm and courteous behind the wheel."
According to 2024 PennDOT crash data, there were 1,559 aggressive driving crashes, resulting in 40 fatalities and 93 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.
"The City of Philadelphia is committed to Vision Zero, meaning our goal is to eliminate traffic deaths,” said City of Philadelphia Transportation and Infrastructure Deputy Managing Director Michael Carroll. “The state and local police, as well as PennDOT, play an important role in combating aggressive driving. We also know that speed cameras save lives. The automated speed enforcement program on Roosevelt Boulevard has reduced speeding by 95 percent, and we will continue to expand these lifesaving programs to new corridors, starting with Broad Street."
“The Pennsylvania State Police remains committed to providing targeted enforcement of aggressive and distracted drivers in an effort to reduce crashes and save lives,” said PSP Captain Jonathan Sunderlin. “Troopers will be actively focused on drivers who are not only speeding, but also tailgating, failing to use turn signals, and distracted driving. The Pennsylvania State Police is partnering with law enforcement agencies throughout the state to ensure that this endeavor is widespread and successful.”
The coordinated enforcement is part of an aggressive driving enforcement wave running through April 27 focused on distracted driving, speeding, and work zone awareness. The goal of targeted enforcement is to reduce the number of aggressive driving related crashes, injuries, and deaths on roadways throughout the Philadelphia region. Motorists exhibiting other unsafe behaviors such as driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, or making careless lane changes will also be cited.
“Aggressive driving poses significant safety risks for all road users, but particularly for cyclists who are vulnerable and lack protection from a vehicle,” said the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia Executive Director Chris Gale. “We all have places to go, and we all want to get there safely. It’s important we all do our part to share the road.”
PSP, as well as more than 80 municipal agencies will utilize strategies such as traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, corridor enforcement, work zone enforcement, and multi-jurisdictional patrol to identify and cite aggressive drivers.
The enforcement is part of Pennsylvania's Highway Safety Program and is funded by part of PennDOT's investment of federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
If you encounter an aggressive driver, PennDOT offers these tips:
- Get out of their way and stay as far away as possible.
- Do not engage or challenge the driver in any way.
- Stay relaxed, avoid eye contact, and ignore rude gestures.
- Don't block the passing lane if you are driving slower than most of the 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. If you can, note the license plate and a description of the car.
To learn more about PennDOT's highway safety efforts, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.
PennDOT’s media resources web page offers social media-sized graphics for numerous transportation-related campaigns, including safety topics such as aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving, and seat belts for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders.
Editor's Note: The following police departments in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties will participate in the current aggressive driving mobilization:
Bucks County:
Bedminster Township
Bensalem Township
Bristol Borough
Bristol Township
Buckingham Township
Doylestown Township
Falls Township
Hilltown Township
Lower Southampton Township
Middletown Township
Morrisville Borough
New Britain Township
New Hope Borough
Newtown Borough
Newtown Township
Northampton Township
Penndel Borough
Pennridge Regional
Quakertown Borough
Richland Township
Solebury Township
Tinicum Township
Upper Southampton Township
Warrington Township
Warwick Township
Chester County:
Downingtown Borough
East Pikeland Township
East Whiteland Township
North Coventry Township
Phoenixville Borough
South Chester County Regional
Tredyffrin Township
Uwchlan Township
Valley Township
West Brandywine Township
West Chester Borough
West Goshen Township
Westtown-East Goshen Township
West Whiteland Township
Willistown Township
Delaware County:
Aston Township
Chester City
Chester Township
Eddystone Borough
Glenolden Borough
Haverford Township
Marple Township
Newtown Township
Radnor Township
Ridley Township
Sharon Hill Borough
Springfield Township
Upland Borough
Upper Darby Township
Upper Providence Township
Montgomery County:
Abington Township
Bridgeport Borough
Cheltenham Township
Collegeville Borough
Conshohocken Borough
Douglas Township
East Norriton Township
Franconia Township
Hatfield Township
Jenkintown Borough
Limerick Township
Lower Frederick Township
Lower Gwynedd Township
Lower Merion Township
Lower Moreland Township
Lower Pottsgrove Township
Lower Providence Township
Lower Salford Township
Marlborough Township
Montgomery Township
New Hanover Township
Norristown Borough
Plymouth Township
Pottstown Borough
Springfield Township
Towamencin Township
Upper Dublin Township
Upper Gwynedd Township
Upper Merion Township
Upper Moreland Township
Upper Pottsgrove Township
Upper Providence Township
West Norriton Township
Whitpain Township
Philadelphia County:
City of Philadelphia
MEDIA CONTACT: Krys Johnson, krysjohnso@pa.gov
# # #