Although #NewtownPA Township is making progress dealing with pedestrian safety issues on major roads, many residents feel enough is not being done within residential neighborhoods. I summarized the issue in my blog post "Pedestrian Safety Issues in the Neighborhoods".

 

Newtown Township, PA – The Newtown Township Police Department will join the Pennsylvania State Police and over 300 municipal agencies to conduct a targeted aggressive-driving enforcement wave from July 5 through August 21, 2022.

 

The goal of targeted enforcement is to reduce the number of aggressive driving related crashes, injuries, and deaths on roadways throughout the state. Any aggressive driver stopped by police will receive a ticket.

 

The enforcement wave will focus on heavy truck violations, pedestrian safety, red light running and tailgating. Motorists exhibiting other unsafe behaviors such as driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, or other aggressive actions will also be cited.

 

The enforcement is part of Pennsylvania’s Highway Safety Program and is funded by part of PennDOT’s investment of federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://bucks.crimewatchpa.com/newtowntwppd/34824/post/aggressive-driving-enforcement-initiative-0

Pennsylvania saw a significant increase in traffic deaths in 2021, following both a regional and national trend in increases in deaths on the roads last year, according to new estimates.

 

Pennsylvania saw 1,234 traffic deaths in 2021, up 9.3 percent from 1,129 in 2020.

 

Highway safety experts wondered at the time if dangerous driving during the pandemic — including driving at speeds exceeding 200 mph on highways absent the normal traffic loads of people commuting to and from work and going about their lives — was a blip or a long-term pattern.

 

Some other estimates from the report:

 

• Pedestrian fatalities were up 13 percent.
• Bicyclist fatalities were up 5 percent.
• Fatalities in police-reported, alcohol-involved crashes were up 5 percent.

 

More...

 

[LTE by Peter Yost, Bucks County Courier Times, May 15, 2022]

 

A recent (April 19) letter from a National Motorists Association advocate suggested that Pennsylvania repeal the speed camera law. I would take the opposite position and suggest that we need more, not fewer, speed cameras.

 

Recent data from the U.S. Department of Transportation indicates that the 31,720 traffic deaths through September 2021 was the highest nine-month figure since 2006. Many of these deaths were due to speeding and reckless driving.

 

Speed cameras in high-traffic areas, not just construction zones, can help identify and fine repeat offenders. Cameras can also relieve local and state police of speed enforcement responsibilities. We know that traffic stops are not only dangerous for police, but also for minorities who are often the target of these stops.