Pennsylvania state trooper Craig Amos, Pennsylvania DUI Association representative Cathy Tress and Franklin Police Department Lt. Kevin Anundson stand near the DUI Moving Memorial and community Christmas tree Saturday during a stop in Franklin. The event, held in conjunction with Franklin’s Light-Up Night festivities, served as a reminder to drivers to make safe choices behind the wheel this holiday season.
The traveling memorial features the name of thousands of victims DUI crashes in Pennsylvania and provides a serene setting for the family and friends to honor their loved ones.
According to PennDOT data, there were 4,029 crashes and 45 fatalities in Pennsylvania during the 2015 Thanksgiving season, Nov. 20 to Dec. 7. Of those, 524 involved impaired drivers, which resulted in 20 fatalities.
In PennDOT’s six-county northwest region, there were 167 crashes, resulting in one fatality during the 2015 Thanksgiving season.
Of those crashes, 28 involved impaired drivers.
To help deter unsafe driving, law enforcement agencies statewide are participating in enforcement campaigns as part of Operation Safe Holiday which runs through Dec. 31. Officers will be on the lookout for impaired and/or aggressive drivers, as well as motorists and passengers not following the seat belt regulations.
