PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Area agencies are warning people to be safe and sober when they travel over the Independence Day holiday.
The standard holiday advice for drivers to slow down and not drink and drive is intensified this year, with Philadelphia visitors on the move for World Cup matches and America’s 250th birthday celebrations. At a news conference Wednesday at Philadelphia's Coast Guard station, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jessica Tobin said extra attention is vital.
“Crashes occur every day because someone’s either driving distracted, in a hurry, or making the decision to drive impaired or intoxicated,” she said.
That extra attention isn’t just for roads. U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Tyric Burge said drinking while boating is dangerous, too.
“Alcohol can affect your judgment, your balance, your coordination, your reaction time and your decision-making while you’re on board a vessel,” he said.
According to Tobin, extra patrols will be stationed along high-traffic interstates. “We're going to position ourselves at key locations where the likelihood of aggressive driving and crashes are expected to happen,” she said.
According to PennDOT officials, last year’s Fourth of July weekend saw 1,100 crashes in the Philadelphia region, with 91 related to impaired driving.
PennDOT district executive Din Abazi said extra vigilance is necessary no matter how people travel over the holiday. In addition to driving and boating while impaired, he noted, “walking and biking are just as dangerous as driving under the influence.”
