HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Jeffrey B. Miller is urging motorists to drive with care during the Memorial Day holiday driving period.
“Aggressive driving behaviors lead to most of the crashes on our highways,” Col. Miller said. “Motorists who drive too fast, tailgate in traffic, cut off other vehicles and ignore yield signs are responsible for creating havoc on our roads.”
Col. Miller urged motorists to:
– Drive defensively, not aggressively. Don’t speed, tailgate or engage in other dangerous driving behaviors.
– Make sure everyone in your vehicle is properly restrained, including all children and backseat passengers.
– Avoid driving, even for a short distance, if you’ve been drinking.
– Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.
“Drivers should have only one goal when they get behind the wheel: To get to their destination safely,” Col. Miller said. “Don’t react to aggressive drivers by becoming one of them yourself. That won’t help you reach your destination, and it could endanger lives.”
The official four-day Memorial Day driving period runs from Friday through Monday.
According to Col. Miller, 11 people were killed and 324 others were injured in the 786 crashes to which state police responded during the 2005 Memorial Day holiday driving period.
During that period, troopers issued 6,450 speeding citations, charged 351 people with driving under the influence, cited 565 for not wearing seat belts and issued citations to 57 for not securing children in safety seats.
Col. Miller said troopers are participating in “All-American Buckle-Up Week” through Tuesday and Operation C.A.R.E., a national program aimed at reducing crashes on interstate highways during holiday weekend driving periods.
As part of Operation C.A.R.E., an acronym for Combined Accident Reduction Effort, troopers are engaging in highly visible, aggressive highway enforcement activity throughout the period.