VENANGO CO., Pa. – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and Franklin Police Department stood together on Wednesday to urge motorists to avoid aggressive driving behaviors to keep the state’s roadways safe.
(Pictured: Franklin police chief Kevin Anundson spoking to members of the media Wednesday morning about what curbing aggressive driving means to municipalities. Anundson spoke about the importance of safe driving not only for motorists but also pedestrians. Photos courtesy of Richard Sayer of Eight & 322)
“Safety is a major focus at PennDOT, not just when we design our bridges and roadways, but also when we think about the drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians who use them,” said Brian McNulty, PennDOT District 1 Executive.
“Aggressive driving is a preventable safety hazard, and we are proud to partner with area police to encourage a decrease in that behavior.”
In 2020, aggressive driving was a factor in 304 crashes in PennDOT’s District 1, which includes Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties. This represents a five-year high for the northwest region, which has experienced an increase in aggressive driving-related crashes in each of the past two years with 290 in 2019 and 246 in 2018.
Corresponding with the overall increase in aggressive driving-related crashes has been an uptick in speeding. Following a low of 117 in 2018, the number of crashes with at least one driver’s action being speeding jumped to 171 in 2019 and 189 in 2020.
Since 2016, there have been 26 fatalities in District 1 resulting from aggressive driving, including three in 2020.
To help curb dangerous driving behaviors, PSP and local police departments will participate in an aggressive driving enforcement wave from July 5 to August 22, 2021, including the statewide coordinated enforcement day held today.
“Aggressive driving behaviors are contributing factors in crashes throughout the Commonwealth,” said PSP Troop E Community Services Officer Trooper Michelle McGee-Morrison. “This initiative aims to reduce the number of aggressive-driving-related crashes, injuries, and deaths and brings law enforcement agencies together to promote safer driving practices.”