CLEARFIELD – PennDOT is supporting a nationwide crackdown on impaired driving this Independence Day weekend as part of this year’s distribution of $4.2 million in federal funds, which pays for police efforts to get impaired drivers off the road.
Starting July 1, through Independence Day, several local police departments with the Clearfield County DUI Strike Force as well as Pennsylvania State Police troopers will participate in impaired-driving enforcement.
This year PennDOT’s impaired-driving enforcement investment of $4.2 million will pay for approximately 900 sobriety checkpoints (overtime and other associated costs) as well as many roving patrols throughout the state. PennDOT’s overall distribution also includes $1.6 million to help fund State Police impaired-driving enforcement efforts.
According to PennDOT statistics, there were 1,000 crashes in Pennsylvania during last year’s Independence Day weekend, 162 of which were alcohol-related. Tragically, 18 people lost their lives in these crashes statewide; half of those deaths were in alcohol-related crashes. Police investigated 88 motorcycle crashes last year during the Independence Day weekend, including crashes in which five people were killed.
To learn more about PennDOT’s efforts to prevent impaired driving or find information on the department’s other safety initiatives, visit www.DriveSafePA.org.