King of Prussia, PA – With the busy holiday travel period just around the corner, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police, Delaware County District Attorney, SEPTA, Media Business Authority, and AAA came together today at Spasso Grill in Media to remind drivers of the importance of safe driving and consistent seat belt use.
Operation Safe Holiday kicked off on November 13 with the "Click It or Ticket" Thanksgiving enforcement mobilization, which runs through November 26. Pennsylvania law requires any occupant younger than 18 to buckle up when riding in a vehicle, as well as drivers and front-seat passengers. Children under the age of two must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, and children under the age of four must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday.
"Troopers are trained to look for various traffic violations and will remain cognizant during the holiday periods. Travelers can do their part by remembering to slow down, move over, never drive impaired or distracted, and always buckle up," said Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jessica Tobin.
Throughout Operation Safe Holiday, law enforcement will conduct sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols, and regular traffic safety patrols beginning the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, November 22, through the New Year's holiday to crack down on drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol.
"Every single drunk driving death is preventable. Our message today is simple – the decision to drive after drinking has the potential to negatively and permanently impact your life, as well as the lives of your family members and other motorists," said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. "With the widespread availability of ride-share services, there is simply no excuse to risk danger to yourself and others by driving impaired. The holidays are a time for tradition and family gatherings. Please, don't let it turn into a time of tragedy."
According to PennDOT 2022 data, there were 525 crashes resulting in six fatalities in the Philadelphia region during the Thanksgiving travel period beginning Wednesday, November 23, and running through Monday, November 28. Of those, 41 crashes and three fatalities were impaired-driving related.
Before ever heading out, it's vital to plan. Follow these tips to ensure safe traveling during the holidays:
- Never drive impaired. Celebrate responsibly, and do not get behind the wheel if you have been drinking or taking drugs that cause impairment. Plan ahead and find a safe way home every time – designate a driver or use a ride-share service or public transportation.
- Check your tires. Tires are a vehicle's first line of defense on the road. Check your tire pressure, tread depth, and spare tire, especially before long trips. Do not overload your vehicle. It can result in premature wear and tire blowouts.
- Buckle up. A seat belt is your vehicle's most important safety feature. Seat belts save lives, so buckle up every trip, every time.
- Observe and obey all speed limits. Speed limits change as you drive through different types of roadways, so make sure you adjust your speed accordingly.
"We want everyone to have a great holiday season and celebrate responsibly," said SEPTA Chief Communications Officer Bill Webster. "An easy way to do that is by using public transportation – studies have shown it's ten times safer than driving. You can have a good time and leave the driving to us."
To learn more about PennDOT's highway safety efforts, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.
PennDOT's media center offers social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving, and seat belts for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, 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.
For a complete list of construction projects impacting state-owned highways in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, visit the District 6 Traffic Bulletin.
Information about infrastructure in District 6, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D6Results. Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
Subscribe to PennDOT District 6 news and traffic alerts at www.penndot.pa.gov/District6.
Contact: Krys Johnson, krysjohnso@pa.gov
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