HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Police investigated 931 crashes during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday driving period from November 23 through November 27, 2016. The total represents a decrease of 8.1 percent compared to the 1,013 crashes investigated during the Thanksgiving holiday driving period in 2015.
Of the 931 crashes investigated, 61 were alcohol related, 271 people were injured, and six people were killed. Two of the six fatal crashes involved alcohol.
Troopers made 610 DUI arrests over the long holiday weekend, up from 558 in 2015. They also issued 13,941 speeding citations, 1,264 citations for people for not wearing seat belts, and 183 citations to drivers for not securing children in safety seats.
These statistics cover only those incidents investigated by state police and do not include statistics on incidents to which other law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania responded.
| CRASH DATA | ||||||
| Total Crashes | Fatal Crashes | People Killed | People Injured | Alcohol-Related Crashes | Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashes | |
| 2015 | 1,013 | 11 | 15 | 272 | 91 | 7 |
| 2016 | 931 | 6 | 6 | 271 | 61 | 2 |
| ENFORCEMENT DATA | ||||||
| DUI Arrests | Speeding Citations | Child Seat Citations | Seat Belt Citations | Other Citations | ||
| 2015 | 558 | 14,985 | 318 | 1,296 | 14,941 | |
| 2016 | 610 | 13,941 | 183 | 1,264 | 13,790 | |
Law enforcement agencies, including Pennsylvania State Police, step up patrols during the holidays in an effort to reduce reckless and impaired driving. During the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel periods in 2015, 1,209 crashes statewide involved a driver impaired by drugs or alcohol, according to PennDOT data.
As the holiday season continues, drivers are encouraged to download the SaferRide app. Developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the app provides a simple interface to call a taxi or a trusted friend for a ride if you have had too much to drink.
For more information about Pennsylvania State Police, visit www.psp.pa.gov.
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