HARRISBURG PA – Anywhere you travel in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, now through April 26 (Sunday), plan to have your driving scrutinized in what the two states describe as a “multi-state aggressive driving enforcement” effort.
The states-wide crack-down was announced Wednesday (March 18, 2026) by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police, the Highway Safety Network, and New Jersey officials. Their targets: drivers who are speeding, distracted (an example? using a cell phone behind the wheel), lacking “work zone awareness,” driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, or making careless lane changes.
To broaden the campaign, PennDOT also is enlisting assistance from about 300 municipal agencies across the state. Local police departments will concentrate efforts, it says, on roadways known to have a high number of aggressive-driving crashes. Drivers may anticipate seeing traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, work zone enforcement, and multi-jurisdictional enforcement details.
Maybe mark your calendar, too, for April 14 (Tuesday). That’s when the two states say they will conduct a “one-day coordinated enforcement” exercise. “No matter where you drive, if you drive aggressively, you will be stopped by police,” PennDOT reports.
Photo by Travels With The Post
Its Goal: Reduce Crashes, Injuries, Deaths
The enforcement’s stated goal “is to reduce the number of aggressive-driving-related crashes, injuries, and deaths in both states.” Pennsylvania says that, “despite an overall decrease in traffic deaths” during 2025, its preliminary traffic fatality data for last year also shows an increase in crash fatalities involving aggressive driving.
In partnership with the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, police departments across the Garden State reportedly “will mirror the efforts made in Pennsylvania.” Additional troopers will use radar and laser to enforce New Jersey speed laws, look for distracted drivers, and enforce its Move Over law.
In 2024, PennDOT indicates there were 5,897 aggressive-driving crashes, resulting in 106 fatalities and 405 suspected serious injuries. Complete 2025 fatality data is expected to be announced later this spring.
“Aggressive driving crashes and fatalities are completely preventable,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll says. “If we all stay calm and courteous while driving, we can create a safer and more respectful driving culture,” he adds.
Our local news reporting includes articles about state, county, borough, township, and village government decisions and activities within, or that affect residents of, Montgomery, Berks, and Chester PA counties. It also includes Traffic articles about private and public transportation issues. Find more government articles here.
Talk with Pottstown Police Over Coffee March 28