Several state agencies are urging residents to keep safety in mind when making plans to celebrate this Independence Day weekend.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, State Police, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Fish and Boat Commission emphasize that alcohol consumption impairs judgment and reaction time on the water as well as the highway.
“No matter what you’re doing this holiday weekend and throughout the rest of the summer, make smart choices and stay safe,” Fish and Boat Commission Boating at Large Commissioner Richard Lewis said. “If you’re boating, wear a life jacket. If you’re driving, wear a seatbelt. And never, ever, drink and operate a boat and motor vehicle.”
Pennsylvania also ranks in the top five nationally for ATV crashes with many of those involving alcohol. PSP Troop H Commanding Officer Mark Magyar explains.
“Last year, troopers investigated 186 ATV crashes that resulted in 19 deaths and 36 of those crashes were DUI related. As of this month state police have investigated 55 ATV crashes that have killed seven people,” Magyar said. “11 of the 55 crashes were DUI related. Please ride sober.”
Law enforcement will be conducting checkpoints and roving patrols over the holiday period using funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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