‘Arrive alive’: Motorists urged to avoid aggressive driving
The South Strabane Police Department, state police, and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation are urging motorists to avoid aggressive driving.
To help curb dangerous driving behaviors, state police and local police departments are participating in an aggressive driving enforcement wave that runs through Nov. 12.
“With the holiday season fast approaching, we are all aware that the amount of traffic will increase over the next couple of months,” said Trooper Forrest Allison during a press conference Wednesday at South Strabane police department. “The state police and our local law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the traffic laws in an attempt to keep our roadways safe.”
Police are focusing on motorists who are speeding, tailgating, disregarding school bus safety, and ignoring the Move Over Law.
They also will cite drivers for other careless and aggressive driving in an effort to reduce the number of aggressive driving-related crashes, injuries, and motor vehicle deaths.
Aggressive driving – including speeding, tailgating, running red lights and stop signs, passing illegally on the right, and failing to yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles – contributes significantly to highway crashes and fatalities.
“Crash data and statistics show that aggressive driving is a major contributor to crashes that involve injury and fatalities,” said Allison.
According to PennDOT data, aggressive driving was a factor in 7,248 crashes statewide, resulting in 119 fatalities in 2022.
Washington County saw 218 aggressive driving crashes last year, with one fatality and 19 serious injuries.
School districts have been experiencing an uptick in School Bus Stopping Law violations, so police are reminding drivers that the law requires them to stop at least 10 feet from buses with their red lights flashing and stop arm extended.
PennDOT District 12 Safety Press Officer Melissa Maczko also encouraged drivers to follow the Move Over Law.
The law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area to move over to a lane farther away. Drivers who are unable to safely merge into a lane farther away from the emergency response area are required to slow to no more than 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
South Strabane police Chief Drew Hilk encouraged motorists to be patient as traffic increases during the holiday season.
“We see an increase in traffic because we have the retail destination here. With that increase in traffic, sometimes there will be an increase in lack of patience, and that increases aggressive driving behaviors such as weaving in and out of traffic, running red lights, following too closely, or distracted driving,” said Hilk. “Those things can lead to an increase in crashes, and potentially fatalities, here in the area.”
His advice: slow down, buckle up, don’t drive distracted, and don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“This simple thing to remember is arrive alive,” he said. “You cannot enjoy your holiday season if you don’t make it to your holiday destination.”
PennDOT recommends those who encounter an aggressive driver to get out of their way and don’t challenge them; avoid eye contact and ignore rude gestures; don’t block the passing lane if you are driving slower than most of the traffic; and do not attempt to follow or pursue the vehicle.
For more information on aggressive driving, distracted driving, and work zone safety, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/Safety.