Uniontown, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) partnered with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Washington County Commissioners, Pennsylvania DUI Association, and Highway Safety Network to raise awareness about the devastating consequences of impaired driving.
Fifty flags were placed outside the Washington County Courthouse – each one representing a life lost in the county due to impaired driving from 2020 to 2024.
As part of the event, the Washington County Commissioners issued a proclamation designating July 2025 as “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” month, reinforcing the importance of sober driving throughout the summer travel season.
“Last year alone, impaired driving crashes claimed 343 lives across Pennsylvania – including 30 people in Westmoreland, Washington, Fayette, and Greene counties,” said PennDOT Safety Press Officer Emily Swecker. “Each one of those deaths was entirely preventable.”
PennDOT reminds drivers that impairment isn’t limited to alcohol. Prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and illegal substances can all hinder a motorist’s ability to drive safely.
The price of impaired driving goes far beyond a citation. Costs can escalate quickly – from legal fees, fines, and court costs to increased insurance premiums and license suspension. The consequences often extend into personal and professional lives, including potential jail time, community service, and even job loss due to court appearances or incarceration.
The message is clear: if you’re impaired, don’t drive. Designate a sober driver, use public transportation, or call a rideshare service - because every life lost is one too many.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/Safety.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/district12.
Information about infrastructure in District 12, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D12Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
Follow PennDOT on X and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.
MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Swecker, eswecker@pa.gov or 724-425-3018
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