HARRISBURG, PA — As the Labor Day holiday approaches, Pennsylvania’s Departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) recently joined forces with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and safety partners to emphasize the importance of responsible celebrations. At a gathering at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, officials urged motorists to avoid impaired driving during the holiday.
“Crashes involving impaired drivers are completely preventable,” stated PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet. He encouraged celebrants to plan safe returns home through designated drivers or public transportation, stressing that impaired driving should never be an option.
The significance of this initiative is underscored by last year’s grim statistics: 1,189 crashes occurred over the Labor Day weekend, resulting in 20 fatalities and 892 injuries. Among these, 133 were alcohol-related crashes, leading to eight deaths and 110 injuries, while 41 were drug-related, causing five fatalities and 48 injuries.
Colonel Christopher Paris, PSP Commissioner, highlighted the life-saving impact of DUI enforcement, noting that removing impaired drivers enhances road safety for everyone. In the previous year’s enforcement period, state troopers made 514 DUI arrests and investigated 61 alcohol-related crashes, including two fatalities.
The event also spotlighted the role of Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) in identifying drivers impaired by substances beyond alcohol. Pennsylvania boasts approximately 250 DRE officers trained to detect drug-impaired motorists and assist in DUI investigations.
Dr. Dale Dangleben, Medical Director of Trauma Services at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, provided a sobering perspective on the repercussions of impaired driving. “Impaired driving leads to preventable injuries and fatalities, and many times turns surgeries into life-or-death struggles,” he shared, urging the public to recognize the broader implications for families and communities.
Cumberland County Coroner Charley Hall underscored the critical message with a stark reminder: “Impaired driving kills. Don’t become another coroner’s statistic.”
The Pennsylvania DUI Association’s Moving DUI Victims’ Memorial was also part of the event, honoring those lost to impaired driving. Safety partners across the state continue to encourage sober driving and alternative transportation arrangements to prevent further tragedies on the roads during the holiday weekend.
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