HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania State Police urged motorists to drive safely during the Fourth of July holiday weekend and reminded drivers to obey the state’s Steer Clear Law, which requires drivers to moves over or slow down when they encounter an emergency response area.
Such areas include locations where police are making traffic stops, construction crew sites or where tow trucks are responding to disabled vehicles.
State police said troopers will be watching for drunk drivers, speeders and other aggressive motorists during the official three-day Fourth of July driving period, which runs from July 3 through July 5.
During last year’s Fourth of July driving period, which covered four days, 15 people were killed and 289 others were injured in 759 accidents to which troopers responded. Eleven of the 15 people who were killed were not wearing seat belts.
Troopers arrested 339 motorists for DUI, issued 6,891 speeding citations, cited 372 for failing to wear seat belts and issued 68 citations for not securing children in safety seats.