Law Enforcement Cracks Down on Aggressive Driving on Route 8

Speedy, tailgating, aggressive motorists on Route 8 in Allegheny and Butler counties might get the feeling they are being watched.

They are. 

"Eyes on 8" has them, quite literally, on their radar.

PennDOT announced Thursday an aggressive-driving enforcement initiative with the catchy "Eyes on 8" name. It will target the busy Route 8 corridor in Allegheny and Butler counties

Representatives from PennDOT, state and local police departments and the Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Program came together Thursday morning in Shaler Township to talk about "Eyes on 8."

Police conducted aggressive-driving enforcement in the vicinity of the event.

Law enforcement officials from Etna, Shaler and in Allegheny County and Middlesex, Butler and Penn in Butler County are joining with the Pennsylvania State Police to focus on reducing aggressive-driving crashes and fatalities along the Route 8 corridor.

PennDOT announced that part of its statewide investment of federal funds will help municipal and state police to crack down on aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding, tailgating and running red lights.

More than 320 municipal police departments and the Pennsylvania State Police will carry out aggressive-driving enforcement activities through April 29.

During this statewide enforcement wave, motorists are reminded to obey the speed limit and to not speed or tailgate in work zones. Police will concentrate efforts on roadways that are known to have a high number of aggressive driving crashes.

The extra enforcement is a part of the Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project and is funded by part of PennDOT’s $2.3 million investment of federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to PennDOT statistics, there were 5,755 aggressive-driving crashes in the state during 2010, an increase from 4,763 in 2009. Fatalities in those crashes also increased, with 168 in 2010 and 130 in 2009.

In 2010, there were 1,884 crashes in work zones, an increase from the 1,519 crashes in 2009.

Visit www.DriveSafePA.org for more information on Pennsylvania’s traffic-safety initiatives.

—PennDOT submitted this information. If you would like to share news and photos, please email Editor Cindy Cusic Micco at cindy.micco@patch.com