(File Photo)

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Allegheny County Safety Partners, Allegheny County Airport Authority, Allegheny Health Network Life Flight and STAT MedEvac partnered to highlight the importance of sober driving and wearing a seat belt ahead of the holiday season, especially the day before Thanksgiving, also known as “Blackout Wednesday.”

“Blackout Wednesday,” one of the largest drinking days of the year, kicks off the Holiday Season Impaired Driving Campaign, which runs through January 2, 2025. During this time, the southwest region of PennDOT and their safety partners will work together to deliver lifesaving messages to the public to encourage positive actions that can help reduce impaired driving in Pennsylvania.

The event was hosted at the Allegheny County Airport, with safety partners gathered in front of a STAT MedEvac helicopter, used to transport crash victims to life-saving treatment. The safety partners shared safety tips for celebrating the holidays responsibly and making good decisions that will save lives.

Drivers are reminded to recognize how drugs, even prescribed medications, along with alcohol, can impact their ability to drive safely. Someone is considered alcohol-impaired with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Additionally, drugs can mimic the same inebriation symptoms as someone with a .08 BAC, or sometimes worse.

According to PennDOT data, from the day before Thanksgiving 2023 to January 2, 2024 there were 998 crashes in Allegheny County, resulting in 11 fatalities. Of those crashes, 105 were impaired driver related, resulting in five fatalities.

Motorists were also urged to buckle up each time they enter a vehicle. As many Pennsylvanians will travel during the holiday season, they are reminded the Pennsylvania law requires drivers, front-seat passengers, and any occupant younger than 18 to buckle up when riding in a vehicle. Children under age 4 must be properly secured in an approved child safety seat. Children under age 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat until they outgrow the maximum weight and height limits designated by the seat manufacturer. Booster seats are required for children ages 4 to 8.

Collectively the agencies are urging the public to plan ahead and be safe this holiday season, as safety is everyone’s responsibility.

The Allegheny County Safety Partners consist of the AAA East Central, Allegheny County Health Department, Allegheny County Police Department, Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania DUI Association, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project, and Port Authority of Allegheny County Police Department.

For more information, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.

PennDOT’s media center offers social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as seat belts, impaired driving, and distracted driving for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders.

For regional updates, follow PennDOT on X and join the Greater Pittsburgh Area PennDOT Facebook group.