The Smooth Operator Program is a public safety initiative, which aims to provide education, information and solutions for the problem of aggressive driving. Law enforcement agencies, trauma experts, government officials and other professionals have worked together to educate motorists of the risks involved with aggressive driving, and to stigmatize aggressive driving behavior on our roads.
Aggressive driving is defined as a combination of unsafe and unlawful driving actions, which demonstrate a conscious and willful disregard for safety. Aggressive driving includes such offenses as tailgating, unsafe lane changes, speeding, running red lights and stop signs, following too closely, improper passing and failing to yield the right of way. About 43 percent of drivers are more concerned about tailgating, speeding, rage while driving, and reckless driving maneuvers more than any other danger. In fact, nearly eight (8) out of 10 motorists say aggressive drivers are a greater danger than terrorists.
This was the pilot program for Pennsylvania which targeted specific points in the Lehigh Valley; a total of 38 Police Departments throughout the valley participated. The Smooth Operator Program is funded through a Federal Grant which has been renewed for 2007. It has been expanded to involve 151 Police Departments, and will include additional roadways within CRPD’s jurisdiction.
According to crash data obtained from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the concentrated areas were determined to have high incidents of aggressive driving crashes. The areas that CRPD concentrated on were Route 512, between Hanoverville Road and Route 22, and Schoenersville Road, between Airport Road and Eight Avenue.
Colonial Regional Police Department conducted three (3) waves on June 18 through July 8, July 23 through July 29 and August 9 through September 9. During each wave an officer in an unmarked vehicle clocked drivers in the targeted areas. When an infraction was detected, the officer radioed ahead to the marked units, who initiated a traffic stop and possible citation. Drivers were also cited for red light violations, driving too closely and improper lane changes.
In total for the three (3) waves performed in 2006, CRPD officers worked the Smooth Operator Program for 294 hours and issued 431 citations in Hanover Township.
