HARRISBURG – During the four-day Fourth of July holiday driving period, which took place July 1 through July 4, Pennsylvania State Police troopers investigated a total of 741 crashes.
The crashes resulted in 259 injuries and 13 fatalities. Alcohol was involved in 75 of the crashes and the deaths of four people. Of the 13 fatal crashes, only one individual involved was wearing a seatbelt.
Troopers arrested 474 motorists for driving under the influence and issued 11,481 speeding citations during the holiday weekend. State police also cited 764 people for not wearing seatbelts and cited 216 drivers for failing to secure children in safety seats.
During last year’s holiday driving period, which spanned three days, three people were killed and 165 others were injured in the 423 crashes that state troopers investigated.
More information on 2017 Independence Day enforcement, broken down by troop, is available here. These statistics cover only those incidents investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and do not include incidents to which other law enforcement agencies responded.
In addition to enforcing traffic laws, troopers remain proactive in educating the public on traffic safety and applicable laws. In 2016, state police members conducted more than 1,500 driver education presentations.
These presentations are conducted at no cost for schools, community groups, and businesses. To arrange a presentation, contact your local state police barracks or visit www.psp.pa.gov.
