HARRISBURG – PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E., and State Police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller urged motorists to drive safely during the Fourth of July travel period and be aware that state and local police will be conducting aggressive driving and DUI enforcement efforts throughout the fourth of July holiday weekend.
“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 driving period, from June 30 through July 4, there were 1,594 crashes on Pennsylvania roadways that resulted in 12 fatalities.
State Police and more than 150 local police departments will be watching the highways during the Smooth Operator enforcement wave from July 1-7. 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 will also target impaired drivers with roving patrols and checkpoints scheduled throughout the holiday and the weekends at either end of the holiday.
During the Fourth of July holiday in 2006, a total of 238 crashes were alcohol-related. Miller noted that of the more than 900 crashes troopers investigated during the holiday weekend last year, 104 were alcohol-related, including five fatalities.
“Risky behavior, such as drinking and driving, can lead to tragic results,” the state police commissioner said.
In addition to handling traffic crashes, state police made 319 DUI arrests last year, issued more than 5,600 citations for speeding and cited more than 300 motorists for failure to obey the state’s seat belt laws.
PennDOT also reminds motorists to drive safely in highway work zones and remember to turn on their headlights when signs instruct them to do so. While PennDOT will attempt to remove lane restrictions where possible, motorists may still have to negotiate lane restrictions in larger projects. Motorists can visit PennDOT’s Web site and click on “Highway Construction Map” for information regarding ongoing projects on interstates and other high-volume highways.