Montoursville, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Highway Safety Network, and the Bloomsburg Police Department met today at Bloomsburg Town Park in Bloomsburg, Columbia County to remind park goers the importance of having a sober driver ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Participants set up a display including 49 small American flags representing the number of impaired driving crashes in Columbia County during 2024 and three larger American flags representing the fatalities in those crashes. The display will remain at the park through the holiday.
Crashes during holiday periods often increase due to the volume of traffic on the roadway. PennDOT data shows there were 279 crashes resulting in four fatalities over the Fourth of July holiday last year. Sixty of those crashes were drug or alcohol-related, resulting in one fatality.
Impaired driving crashes are 100% preventable. PennDOT offers these safety tips:
- Remember it is never okay to drive impaired. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride sharing service to get home safely.
- If hosting a party, offer plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks. Take the keys away from anyone impaired and assist guests in getting home safely.
- If you are planning on being the designated driver, refrain from drinking any alcohol—it’s that simple. People are relying on you.
To learn more about impaired driving and traffic safety, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.
MEDIA CONTACT: Kim Smith, kiasmit@pa.gov or 570-368-4344
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