Aggressive Driving Crackdown Underway In Springfield Township

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA — Police in Springfield Township are now undertaking an aggressive driving crackdown that is ongoing statewide, according to PennDOT.

PennDOT last week announced a statewide aggressive driving coordinated enforcement that will be in effect through Aug. 20.

More than 80 municipal police departments, including Newtown and Marple police, from the five-county Philadelphia region join the Pennsylvania State Police in the coordinated aggressive driving wave to help reduce the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on area roadways as part of the statewide mobilization.

Authorities will focus on heavy truck violations, pedestrian safety, red light running, and tailgating.

Drivers showing other unsafe behaviors, such as driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, or other aggressive actions, will also be cited.

Aggressive-driving factors include:

• making illegal U-turns;
• improper/careless turning;
• turning from the wrong lane;
• proceeding without clearance after stop;
• running stop sign;
• running a red light;
• failure to respond to other traffic control devices;
• tailgating;
• sudden slowing/stopping;
• careless passing or lane change;
• passing in no passing zone;
• making improper entrance to a highway;
• making improper exits from a highway;
• speeding;
• driving too fast for the conditions;
• and driver fleeing police.

To crack down on these dangerous driving practices, police will use traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, corridor enforcement, work zone enforcement, and multi-jurisdictional patrol strategies to identify and cite aggressive drivers.

Drivers who come across someone showing aggressive tendencies on the road should:

• 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;
• and 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.

According to PennDOT data, in 2022 there were 1,342 aggressive driving crashes, resulting in 39 fatalities and 94 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.