Law enforcement to patrol for impaired drivers

The statewide Independence Day Mobilization runs through July 4

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that Pennsylvania’s DUI Task Forces, the Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police departments from Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties will conduct impaired-driving enforcement activities as part of a statewide Independence Day Mobilization which runs through July 4.

Police will target impaired drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs using roving patrols and checkpoints to enforce Pennsylvania’s DUI laws.

PennDOT data shows that in 2017, there were 12,137 impaired driving-related crashes in Pennsylvania, a decrease from the 12,757 such crashes in 2016. Over the Independence Day holiday period last year, there were 2,902 crashes and 40 fatalities statewide. Of those, 273 crashes and 10 fatalities were impaired driving-related.

While the number of alcohol-impaired driving crashes statewide have decreased in recent years, drug-impaired driving crashes continue to increase. According to PennDOT data, in 2017 there were 4,301 drug related crashes and 145 fatalities statewide, an increase from the 4,143 crashes and 153 fatalities in 2016. Over the Independence Day holiday period last year, there were 108 drug related crashes, resulting in five fatalities.

Law Enforcement agencies will also be conducting mobilizations on Pennsylvania’s waterways to enforce the state’s BUI laws. Boaters can be arrested for BUI while operating any watercraft if they are incapable of safe operation regardless of any blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of alcohol and or drugs.

PennDOT encourages people to always plan ahead by either designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation.

To learn more about PennDOT’s efforts to prevent impaired driving or other safety initiatives, visit www.penndot.gov/safety.

For more PennDOT information, visit www. penndot.gov. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter. com/511PAPhilly, and follow the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ pennsylvaniadepartmentoftransportation and Instagram at www.instagram. com/pennsylvaniadot.

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