Crackdown on Impaired Driving

Now through Labor Day, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and local municipal police agencies will be conducting impaired driving enforcement details as part of the National Crackdown on Impaired Driving enforcement and education campaign. This effort is funded through PennDOT's statewide annual distribution of more than $6.2 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement. The goal of targeted enforcement is to reduce the number of impaired driving-related crashes, injuries and deaths on roadways throughout the state.

Over the Labor Day holiday weekend last year there were 1,002 crashes statewide, resulting in 13 fatalities and 722 injuries. Of those crashes, 106 were alcohol related, resulting in four fatalities and 65 injuries; and 27 were drug-related, resulting in three fatalities and 22 injuries.

PSP troopers also made 514 DUI arrests and investigated 65 impaired-driving related crashes, three of which were fatal throughout last year’s Labor Day holiday weekend.

Impaired driving enforcement goes beyond checking for alcohol impairment. Law enforcement continues to work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication or some combination of substances that impact Pennsylvanians’ ability to safely operate their vehicle. Pennsylvania has approximately 250 drug recognition experts or specially trained officers who look for impaired drivers and assist in DUI investigations when drug-impaired driving is suspected.

To learn more about PennDOT’s efforts to prevent impaired driving or other safety initiatives, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.