For safe driving in Township, prevention is key

The people. The schools. The amenities. There's a lot to like about Manheim Township.

But below the surface hides a traffic fact concerning the locale that is, at the least, worrisome and, at the worst, alarming.

According to statistics provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Manheim Township had the second-most reportable vehicle crashes per capita in the state last year. That may be a surprising fact until one considers the number of major highways and thoroughfares that pass through the township.

Roads are especially busy in the summer, as the weather is favorable for more individuals pursuing interests outside. Some variables associated with driving are out of a driver's control, there are also practices that can make automobile travel safer. Those keys revolve around respecting vehicles, the road itself and other drivers, while maintaining focus when behind the wheel.

"I think the message is to just slow down," said Sgt. Barry Waltz, public information officer for the Manheim Township Police Department. "We don't want to meet you handling a crash or handling a traffic situation. We'd rather meet you at a community event. There's a crazy amount of traffic on our roadways, and there are more distractions than there ever have been."

In 2022, PennDOT received reports of 715 crashes in Manheim Township that involved injury or vehicles being towed. Some of the most common causes of crashes were excessive speed, distracted driving, aggressive driving and cellphones.

"They're not accidents; they're crashes," said Waltz, "because they can be avoided. By eliminating or minimizing distractions in a vehicle, a lot of this can be avoided. Manheim Township roads are very congested, so take your time, slow down, pay attention and stay off your cellphone. I feel like we could reduce the number of crashes if people would just do that."

Manheim Township is home to 160 miles of streets and roads, including portions of major arteries like routes 30, 283 and 222, as well as Lititz Pike, Oregon Pike and Fruitville Pike. On average, there are between two and four fatal crashes in the township each year, and about 5% of vehicle occupants overall are found to not be wearing seat belts.

Before the pandemic, the number of reported crashes in Manheim Township had risen steadily and slightly from 2013.

"I think people are generally safe drivers, but they're easily distracted," said Waltz. "I feel like where we have the most crashes are on major throughfares. Those highways make it easy for people to be comfortable."

Waltz said that traffic is one of the Manheim Township Police Department's "top concerns." He also said that the department handles an average of 225 total crashes each month. He added that non-reportable crashes take about 30 minutes to process at the scene and reportable crashes take about an hour to process.

For additional information on the Manheim Township Police Department, go to http://www.manheimtownship.org/187/police.