Aggressive Driving Crackdown Underway In Bucks Co.

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — State and local police will be targeting aggressive drivers over the next few weeks in Bucks County as part of a regional crackdown.

PennDOT officials and law enforcement said the targeted enforcement seeks to reduce aggressive driving-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities on roadways throughout the Philadelphia region.

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There were 2,190 aggressive driving crashes, resulting in 37 fatalities and 114 suspected serious injuries in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties last year, PennDOT said.

Municipal police departments in Bucks County taking part in the summer campaign include:

• Bedminster Township
• Bensalem Township
• Bristol Borough
• Bristol Township
• Buckingham Township
• Doylestown Township
• Falls Township
• Hilltown Township
• Lower Southampton
• 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
• Warrington Township
• Warwick Township
• Yardley Borough

The enforcement initiative is targeting heavy-truck violations, pedestrian safety, red-light running, speeding, and tailgating, officials said.

Troopers and area police officers will use traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, corridor enforcement, work zone enforcement, and multi-jurisdictional patrols to identify and cite aggressive drivers.

Aggressive driving crashes are crashes involving at least two aggressive driving factors in the same crash. Below is a list of factors that comprise aggressive driving.

• Making illegal u-turn
• Improper/careless turning
• Turning from wrong lane
• Proceeding w/o clearance after stop
• Running stop sign
• Running red light
• Failure to respond to other traffic control device
• Tailgating
• Sudden slowing/stopping
• Careless passing or lane change
• Passing in no passing zone
• Making improper entrance to highway
• Making improper exit from highway
• Speeding
• Driving too fast for conditions
• Driver fleeing police

Tips for Drivers who Encounter Aggressive Drivers

If you encounter an aggressive driver, PennDOT offers these tips for what to do:

• 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 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.

Road Rage

While many people associate aggressive driving with road rage, they are two different behaviors. Road rage, which is a criminal offense, is often the result of aggressive driving behavior that escalates into an assault with a vehicle or other dangerous weapon.