CLEARFIELD – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Penn Highlands Healthcare, Clearfield Campus, on Wednesday urged motorists not to drive under the influence and encouraged designated driving ahead of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this weekend.
“We are very excited to be hosting this event,” said Rhonda Halstead, president of Penn Highlands Clearfield.
“We see the results of impaired and distracted driving in our Emergency Department and the devastation it can bring to families. Events like this are very important as reminders to keep safe.”
At the event, Penn Highlands employees and patients were invited to enjoy a mocktail beverage recipe, operate the impaired driving simulator and complete activities while wearing impairment simulation goggles.
Additionally, PennDOT personnel distributed DUI information and promoted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s SaferRide smartphone application.
The app gives users the option of choosing from a list of available taxi services, calling a preprogrammed contact or selecting a map of their current location.
According to preliminary PennDOT 2018 data, there were 33 alcohol-related crashes resulting in one fatality last St. Patrick’s Day. There were 39 alcohol-related crashes and no fatalities the previous year.
Participants were also encouraged to join the conversation using #CelebrateSafe when sharing a safety selfie from the event.
For more information on the dangers and consequences of impaired driving safety, visit www.penndot.gov/safety and https://padui.org/.
For regional traffic updates, follow www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL.