As the busy holiday travel season approaches, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police, West Chester Borough Police Department, West Goshen Township Police Department, AAA, and the Chester County District Attorney held a press event today at the Chester County Historic Courthouse in West Chester. The event aimed to remind drivers about the importance of safe driving practices and the consistent use of seat belts.
Operation Safe Holiday began on November 11 with the “Click It or Ticket” Thanksgiving enforcement mobilization and will continue until December 1. Pennsylvania law mandates that all occupants younger than 18 must wear seat belts when traveling in a vehicle. Drivers and front-seat passengers are also required to buckle up. Children under two must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, while children under four must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Furthermore, children must use a booster seat until their eighth birthday.
“Buckling up takes less than three seconds and is the most effective way to reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a vehicle crash,” said Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Kelly MacIntyre. “We want everyone to arrive safely at their Thanksgiving dinners and holiday gatherings, and wearing a seatbelt is one of the simplest ways to help ensure a safe arrival.
Along with ensuring that everyone is wearing a seat belt during holiday travel, PennDOT reminds motorists that alcohol is not the only substance capable of impairing a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle.
Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs can impair a driver’s coordination, judgment, and reaction times. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications may cause extreme drowsiness, dizziness, and other side effects. Motorists should carefully read and follow all warning labels, especially those that caution against “operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a vehicle.
Throughout Operation Safe Holiday, law enforcement will conduct sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols, and regular traffic safety patrols beginning Wednesday, November 20, through the New Year’s holiday to crack down on drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol.
State Police on Patrol in Upper Bucks County
Credit: Jeff Bohen Lower Bucks Source
“When you get on the road, you are pledging to use safe driving practices to keep all road users safe,” said West Chester Borough Police Department Lt. James Gorman. “Anyone heading out to a bar or party must commit to staying sober for the night if they are driving or arrange for a sober ride home before they begin to drink alcohol.”
According to PennDOT 2023 data, there were 506 crashes resulting in five fatalities in the Philadelphia region during the Thanksgiving travel period beginning Wednesday, November 22, and running through Monday, November 27. Of those, 47 crashes and three fatalities were impaired-driving related.
“With nearly 72 million Americans expected to be on the road during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, those who choose to drive while impaired are endangering not only themselves but also millions of others,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic Manager of Public and Government Affairs Jana Tidwell. “It is never acceptable to get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you are buzzed, drunk, or otherwise impaired. The risk of injury or death to yourself, your passengers, and other drivers is not worth it, especially when there are plenty of options available to get home safely. AAA encourages everyone to enjoy Thanksgiving with friends and family without facing the devastating consequences of impaired driving. With so many easy alternatives to avoid driving after drinking, there is no reason to take that risk for yourself or others on the road.”
Before you go out, plan ahead for a safe celebration:
- Always drive 100 percent sober. Even one alcoholic beverage could be one too many.
- Before you have even one drink, designate a sober driver to get you home safely. If you wait until you’ve been drinking to make this decision, you might not make the best one.
- You have options to get home safely: designate a sober driver or call a rideshare or taxi. Getting home safely is always worth it.
- If it’s your turn to be the designated driver, take your job seriously and don’t drink.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 911.
- If you have a friend who is about to drink and drive, take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.
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