ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The latest efforts to curb aggressive driving will begin on a major Lehigh Valley thoroughfare on Monday.
Various Berks and Lehigh County police departments will join together to conduct coordinated aggressive driving enforcement activities along the Route 222 corridor, a release said.
The latest enforcement wave runs through Aug.18.
According to the release, police will be looking for drivers exhibiting aggressive driving behaviors, such as speeding and tailgating.
The enforcement effort also will have a focus on heavy truck enforcement, the release said.
Monday’s efforts will include members of the Upper Macungie Police Department, Fleetwood Police Department and the Exeter Township Police Department.
Lehigh County enforcement will cover the intersection of Route 222 and Route 100 at the southern end of the bypass.
Berks County enforcement will cover the intersection of Route 222 and Route 662.
According to the state Transportation Department, speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors are among the leading factors of highway crashes and fatalities in Pennsylvania.
The most current data from the Pennsylvania State Police shows 45,708 citations were issued statewide between Jan. 1-June 30 for drivers exceeding maximum speed limits. More than 9,400 citations also were issued for careless driving.
Troopers responded to around 35,000 crashes in the reporting period, with 4,799 crashes attributed to motorists driving too fast for conditions. Almost 1,000 crashes were attributed to tailgating, and 1,778 crashes had a cause or contributing factor of “other improper driving actions.”
Allentown enforcement
The Allentown Police Department also has been conducting traffic operations in various parts of the city.
On July 26, the traffic unit and additional patrol officers conducted a traffic operation on Hanover Avenue on the city's East Side.
"There are several more traffic operations going on this year. We asked folks to please slow down — it could save a life or a traffic crash from happening," a Facebook post said.
In May, a joint enforcement between state police and the Allentown Police Department resulted in 26 traffic citations during the two hours the detail was held on American Parkway, state police said.
Trooper Nathan Branosky, public information officer for PSP’s Troop M barracks, said the majority of citations issued were for speeding.
