Lower Gwynedd, Whitpain Township police to crack down on aggressive drivers

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Monday that more than 80 municipal police departments from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties will join the Pennsylvania State Police in a coordinated aggressive driving enforcement wave. 

The Lower Gwynedd Police Department and the Whitpain Township Police Departments are two of those departments that will join a statewide mobilization effort running through August 17. 

The goal is to reduce the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on area roadways, ensuring drivers' safety on the road.  

The enforcement wave will target heavy truck violations, pedestrian safety, red light running, speeding, and tailgating. Motorists demonstrating unsafe behaviors, such as driving too fast for conditions or other aggressive actions, will also be cited.

Law enforcement will utilize strategies such as traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, corridor enforcement, work zone enforcement, and multi-jurisdictional patrols to identify and cite aggressive drivers.

Any aggressive driver stopped by police will receive a ticket.

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 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 2024 PennDOT crash data, there were 1,608 aggressive driving crashes, resulting in 43 fatalities and 99 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.