OAK HILL, WV (WOAY) – As Pitt journeys to West Virginia for the 2025 Backyard Brawl, we know the rivalry is alive and well.
The football series dates back to 1895, with the game historically being one of the most intense competitions in the eastern United States.
AAA shared how to ensure your travel to this year’s game is easier and safer.
We don’t want the Big Pitt/West Virginia game rivalry to turn into road rage.
“Be sure not only that you’ve given yourself plenty of time, but you get in the right frame of mind,” said AAA Bluegrass Public & Government Affairs Manager Lori Weaver Hawkins. “Certainly, you know, college football brings out that competitive spirit, but we don’t want you to feel that competitive spirit on the road away.”
Oftentimes, if people get up late or the traffic is worse than they were expecting, that’s when they start to get agitated behind the wheel, and it can erupt into aggressive driving behaviors.
“It’s not your job to police someone else’s driving, even if you think it’s terrible. Just keep yourself safe, on your way, and just let it go,” Hawkins said. “We can get rid of a lot of aggressive behavior behind the wheel if we can just learn to kind of let things go. Just stay safe. That should be your priority.”
As you travel to the game — if a driver comes up beside you and gestures, do not engage.
“That kind of deflates their whole act of showing their anger at you and gesturing and shouting at you,” said the Public & Government Affairs Manager. “Just keep your eyes on the road. Ignore it. If you feel like you’re threatened, even that’s the time that you may have to pull over somewhere safe.”
Everyone’s going to be excited for the game as they make their way through the traffic.
“You must keep that focus on the traffic safety, not on the game ahead, the competition, the rivalry,” Hawkins said. “You need to keep your focus on the roadway because you’re not going to enjoy the game if you end up having a traffic incident along the way.”
