LUZERNE COUNTY -- The holiday travel season is upon us, a time when millions of Americans take to the highways.
In northeastern Pennsylvania, interstate traffic will increase and state police say so will the odds of fatal crashes.
"Two weeks ago, there were three accidents. Two on (Route) 924 here and one on the interstate right here, and a friend of mine was in it and he's in bad shape. You know, people flying, not paying attention, on their phones," said James Rodino of Hazle Township.
And so, some state troopers are climbing out of their vehicles and into yellow PennDOT trucks to spot aggressive drivers and speeders. Those troopers then radio ahead to the waiting patrol cars.
"Yeah, I think it would work, I mean because people aren't going to expect it. They're going to be looking for police cars, not PennDOT trucks,” said Rodino.
"Any way to utilize the Pennsylvania trucks to help keep us safe I think is a great idea,” said Bradley Pernick of Nuremberg.
PennDOT officials say, when drivers see marked patrol cars, they instinctively tap their brakes and slow down.
They're hoping Operation Yellow Jacket will teach those drivers to also slow down when they see PennDOT vehicles, keeping them safe and the PennDOT workers safe.
“I think it's a good idea. Not everybody pays attention to even the police or state troopers,” said Crystal Johnson of Freeland.