PennDOT, law enforcement team up for safe holiday travel
State Transportation Department Secretary Allen D. Biehler and state police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller are urging motorists to drive safely during the Independence Day travel period and be aware that state and local police will be conducting aggressive driving and drunken driving enforcement efforts throughout the holiday period. “We want everyone to enjoy the holiday and keep safety in mind as they celebrate,” Biehler said. “Remember to buckle up and never drink and drive or drive aggressively. By avoiding these behaviors, it will help to ensure everyone returns home from their holiday travels safely.”
During the 2006 holiday period, from June 30 through July 4, there were 1,594 crashes on Pennsylvania roadways that resulted in 12 fatalities. A total of 238 crashes were alcohol-related. Miller noted that troopers investigated more than 900 crashes and 104 were alcohol-related, including five fatalities.
“Risky behavior, such as drinking and driving, can lead to tragic results,” Miller said.
Also during last year’s holiday, state police arrested 319 people for driving under the influence of alcohol, issued more than 5,600 citations for speeding and cited more than 300 motorists for failure to obey seat belt laws.
This year, state police and more than 150 local police departments will be watching the highways during the Smooth Operator enforcement wave from Sunday though July 7. Smooth Operator aims to crack down on aggressive driving, the leading cause of Pennsylvania’s traffic fatalities. During the first enforcement blitz in March, more than 21,000 citations and arrests were recorded.
This year, police also will target impaired drivers with roving patrols and checkpoints scheduled throughout the holiday and the weekends before and after the holiday.
PennDOT also reminds motorists to drive safely in highway work zones and to turn on their headlights when signs instruct them to do so. While PennDOT will attempt to remove lane restrictions where possible, motorists still may have to negotiate lane restrictions in larger projects. Motorists can visit PennDOT’s Web site www.dot.state.pa.us and click on “Highway Construction Map” for information regarding ongoing projects on interstates and other high-volume highways.