Montoursville, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) partnered with the Pennsylvania State Police, and other safety partners to promote safe driving during a safety day at the Keystone Welcome Center at Tioga. The event featured safety presentations and activities and provided visitors with traffic safety tips. The annual Safety Day took place during a national crackdown on impaired driving ahead of the Labor Day holiday.
American flags representing the 116 alcohol-related crashes across the state resulting in one fatality during the Labor Day holiday weekend 2025 were on display at the event.
Nearly twenty safety partners were in attendance including the Highway Safety Network, Geisinger Trauma Unit, Tioga County Partnership for Community Health, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Mansfield Fire Company and many more. Equipment on display included a fire truck, ambulance, plow truck, and a police car.
The PennDOT Workers’ Memorial, which honors the 93 PennDOT employees who have been killed in the line of duty since 1970, was also on display at the event. The memorial, with its reflective vests and hard hats mounted on stands, was created by Bradford County maintenance workers following the death of co-worker Leah Rumsey, who was hit by a car while flagging in a work zone.
PennDOT District 3 has eight employees represented in the memorial – Paul Fritz, Leonard Otis, John Hittle, Steve Fullmer, Angel Mendez, Leah Rumsey, Wesley Spearing, and Harold (Don) Whipple. The memorial emphasizes the fact that the safety of workers in a work zone is truly dependent on each person on Pennsylvania's roadways.
PennDOT would like to remind drivers of important safety tips to keep themselves, and others on the road, safe:
- Plan your route. Before heading out, check the weather, road conditions, and traffic.
- Leave early and give yourself plenty of time to get there.
- Buckle up and ensure that everyone else in your vehicle is buckled up in age- and size appropriate car seats, booster seats, or seat belts.
- Stay alert and avoid distractions.
- Do not drive impaired by drugs or alcohol.
Drivers are also reminded that Pennsylvania’s new distracted driving law, known as Paul Miller’s law, is now in full effect. This law prohibits drivers from using any mobile device while driving. That includes taking a quick scroll break at a red light or when stuck in traffic.
For more traffic safety information, please visit pa.gov/dotsafety.
The full list of names of fallen PennDOT employees statewide and additional information on the Workers’ Memorial can be found on PennDOT's website.
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MEDIA CONTACTS: Maggie Baker and Kim Smith at ra-pdd03crc@pa.gov
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