Drivers who speed, tailgate, weave through traffic or scroll through their phones are about to see more flashing lights in their rearview mirrors.
Transportation and law enforcement officials in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have launched a coordinated aggressive driving enforcement campaign that runs through April 26, according to a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania news release.
A one-day, multi-agency crackdown is planned for April 14, when officers across both states will focus their attention on some of the most dangerous driving behaviors on the road.
The campaign brings together the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania State Police, the Highway Safety Network, the New Jersey State Police and dozens of local departments. Their message is simple. Slow down and pay attention.
The effort comes at a time when preliminary data shows a troubling shift. Overall traffic deaths are down so far in 2025, but fatalities tied specifically to aggressive driving are up. In 2024, Pennsylvania recorded 5,897 aggressive driving crashes.
Those crashes led to 106 deaths and 405 suspected serious injuries. Officials say early numbers from this year show an increase in deadly crashes linked to aggressive behavior behind the wheel, even as total traffic fatalities decline. Full 2025 data will be released later this spring.
Police will be looking for speeding, distracted driving and unsafe behavior in work zones. Drivers who follow too closely, make careless lane changes, run red lights or stop signs, or drive too fast for weather and traffic conditions can also expect to be stopped.
Enforcement will include saturation patrols, speed details, work zone operations and joint efforts that cross municipal boundaries. About 300 local agencies in Pennsylvania are taking part.
PennDOT invests roughly $23 million each year in federal grant funding to support high visibility enforcement statewide. That approach, backed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is designed to deter dangerous behavior by increasing the visible presence of law enforcement.
In New Jersey, state troopers and local officers will mirror Pennsylvania’s efforts. Additional patrols will use radar and laser to enforce speed limits, watch for distracted drivers and enforce the state’s Move Over law. The initiative is part of New Jersey’s Goal Zero campaign, which promotes the idea that no traffic death is acceptable.
State police in Pennsylvania investigated about 77,000 crashes in 2025, including 485 fatal crashes and more than 8,000 crashes involving distracted driving. Officials say aggressive driving often involves more than one risky action at a time. It can include running red lights, making illegal turns, tailgating, passing in no passing zones, speeding or even fleeing from police. When several of these behaviors happen together, the danger increases sharply.
Safety officials stress that aggressive driving is preventable. They also draw a distinction between aggressive driving and road rage. Aggressive driving involves traffic violations that endanger others. Road rage is a criminal act that can involve assault with a vehicle or another weapon and often grows out of aggressive driving that spirals out of control.
For drivers who encounter someone behaving aggressively, authorities recommend creating distance and avoiding any form of engagement. Do not make eye contact or respond to gestures. Move out of the way when it is safe to do so and never try to follow or confront the other driver. If calling police, pull over to a safe location before using a phone and, if possible, provide a vehicle description and license plate number.
Officials say the goal of the enforcement wave is not simply to write tickets. It is to prevent the kind of split-second decisions that leave families grieving and communities shaken. With warmer weather and more people on the road, they hope a visible law enforcement presence will serve as a reminder that patience and courtesy can save lives.
Sources: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
