Holiday Safety Push Starts on Roads, Waters, in Parks

HARRISBURG PA – An annual Independence Day holiday traffic safety push by Pennsylvania State Police and local police departments is about to begin.

Law enforcement agencies said Thursday (June 27, 2024) they will conduct checkpoints and roving patrols as part of a statewide “Fourth of July Impaired Driving Campaign.” Its cost is being paid by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, using nearly $6 million in federal funds.

State data shows that, during 2023, there were 38 alcohol-related crashes between July 4 at midnight through July 5 at 6 a.m. They resulted in two fatalities and 23 injuries. During the period, there were 10 drug-related crashes, resulting in one fatality and eight injuries.

Last summer, from June through August 2023, the state also reported 2,375 crashes involving impaired driving. They resulted in 116 fatalities and 1,575 injuries.

State troopers and local police “remain vigilant for impaired driving behaviors,” state police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris said during a media event. They intend to “take a zero-tolerance approach toward motorists found under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. Celebrate the holiday safely by staying sober on the roads,” he added.

Patrols in parks, on water too

Law enforcers also plan to increase their presence on more than just highways. Expect patrols in state parks and lands, as well as its waterways, officials warned at the event.

Pennsylvania ranks among the nation’s top five states for all-terrain vehicle crashes. Many of those involve alcohol, its Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) said.

More than 120 state parks, and 2.2 million acres of state forests with recreational activities are under DCNR management. Possessing, selling or consuming alcoholic beverages on those properties is prohibited at all but designated facilities. The department reminded visitors to practice safe behavior, follow recreation guidelines, and to comply with all posted safety signage.

Safety’s important on the water too, the state Fish and Boat Commission noted. There were 39 boating-under-the-influence arrests during 2023, its statistics show.

“Boating while impaired affects judgment and can delay reaction time on the water, no differently than if you were driving a car,” commission Bureau of Law Enforcement Col. Jeffrey Sabo said. It’s also accompanied by the risk of drowning. “Boating under the influence puts everyone at risk, including passengers and others enjoying the water,” he added.

Photo by Travels With The Post