Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), University of Pittsburgh Police, and Allegheny County Safety Partners hosted an impaired driving awareness event to promote safe and responsible activities ahead of Halloween.
Held on the University of Pittsburgh's campus in the heart of the Oakland community of Pittsburgh, the Safety Partners hosted an event with free interactive games and activities, reminding participants to be safe and smart while celebrating Halloween.
As residents of Allegheny County prepare for the holiday, pedestrian and vehicle traffic is expected to increase throughout the next week. Drivers, whether a part of the festivities or not, are advised to exercise patience and to be vigilant of the activities happening on roadways.
During this time, local and state law enforcement will also increase impaired driving enforcement efforts to keep the public safe. Not only will there be heavy police presence in local communities, but there will also be law enforcement patrolling throughout the city.
According to PennDOT data, on October 31 last year, there were 349 crashes statewide, resulting in four fatalities. Of those crashes, 14 involved a pedestrian and 9 were alcohol related.
To combat these statistics, the partners encourage motorists and pedestrians to plan ahead and celebrate responsibly. Motorists should designate a sober driver, use public transportation, or a ride share service. A person is considered alcohol-impaired with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. However, someone with a lower BAC can have impaired judgment and reaction times as well.
Additionally, pedestrians are also encouraged to plan for safe travel by designating a “sober walker" to escort them during the day, ensuring the group makes it to their destination safely. Pedestrians are also reminded to walk smart by crossing at intersections, using crosswalks, looking both ways before crossing the street, and overall being aware of their surroundings. Pedestrians are much more vulnerable in a crash than motorists.
With trick-or-treat festivities underway, drivers can expect to see many more pedestrians on the roadway. Often it can be difficult for motorists to see pedestrians at night, especially small children wearing costumes. Drivers are reminded to stay alert, abide by the posted speed limit, yield to pedestrians, and never get behind the wheel impaired.
For more Halloween night safety tips for pedestrians and motorists, PennDOT's Halloween Safety Fact Sheet is available online.
The Allegheny County Safety Partners consist of AAA East Central, Allegheny County Health Department, Allegheny County Police Department, Children's Hospital Injury Prevention, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project.
For more information, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.
PennDOT's media center offers social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as seat belts, impaired driving, and distracted driving for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders.
For regional updates, follow PennDOT on X and join the Greater Pittsburgh Area PennDOT Facebook group.
Contact: Yasmeen Manyisha, ymanyisha@pa.gov
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