The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and its safety partners are reminding motorists of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol in advance of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Representatives from PennDOT, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Pennsylvania DUI Association, and UPMC Hamot Trauma Services hosted an event today at UPMC Hamot in Erie to remind motorists of the consequences associated with impaired driving.
“As the region’s only Level II trauma center, we witness firsthand the devastating consequences of drunk driving including the severe injuries, the long-term disabilities, and the tragic deaths,” said UPMC Hamot Trauma Surgeon Shelley Reynolds-Hill, M.D. “The consequences of impaired driving are far-reaching, impacting not only the individuals involved but also their families and communities, which is why we urge people to make responsible choices and never drink and drive.”
According to preliminary PennDOT data, on St. Patrick’s Day in 2024 through 6:00 AM the following day, there were 41 alcohol-related crashes statewide, resulting in 15 injuries. During the same time period, there were 12 drug-related crashes statewide, resulting in six injuries.
Throughout the entire calendar year in 2023, there were 429 fatalities in Pennsylvania as a result of impaired-driving crashes, 27 of which occurred in the northwest region that includes Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.
To deter impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel, local and state law enforcement officials are actively participating in enforcement activities across Pennsylvania in connection with the St. Patrick’s Day impaired driving campaign that began on Friday, March 7, 2025, and extends through the holiday on March 17, 2025.
“Our efforts to enforce Pennsylvania’s DUI laws are not to simply issue citations; they are to save lives,” said PSP Troop E Community Services Officer Trooper Todd Bingman. “The penalties for violating these laws are substantial and reinforce the importance of never putting your life, or someone else’s, at risk by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
The costs associated with impaired driving arrests can vary greatly depending on blood alcohol level, location of the arrest, and number of offenses. Traffic citation fines can range from $300 to $10,000.
Pennsylvania law does require the installation of an ignition interlock system on the vehicle of first-time and repeat DUI offenders with high blood alcohol levels and for individuals who receive an operating privilege suspension as a result of a chemical test refusal.
The ignition interlock system requires the driver to blow into the device before starting the vehicle. If the device detects alcohol, it will prevent the vehicle from starting.
In 2024, there were more than 13,000 Pennsylvania residents with an installed ignition interlock device and more than 75,000 vehicle ignition starts were prevented by the devices statewide.
“There are many misconceptions about drinking and driving, and one of the most frequent assumptions is that it is always okay to drive after consuming one or two drinks,” said Pennsylvania DUI Association Regional Program Administrator Maggie Nunley. “The amount of alcohol a person can drink before it affects driving ability is different for everyone and depends on several factors such as how fast you drink, your weight, your gender and how much food is in your stomach. The safest choice is to always make a plan ahead of time to find a sober ride home.”
To help keep motorists safe, PennDOT offers examples of some common myths about impaired driving:
- Myth – Beer doesn’t have as much alcohol as hard liquor. Fact – A 12 oz. bottle of beer has the same amount of alcohol as a standard shot of 80-proof liquor or 5 oz. of wine.
- Myth – I can still be in control after drinking. Fact – Even though you may not have a staggering walk, impairment begins with the first drink. Alcohol affects vision, coordination, attention span, reaction time and judgment.
- Myth – I’m only driving a few blocks to get home. Fact – The majority of crashes occur between two to five miles from home. Only 1% of crashes take place more than 50 miles away from the driver’s home.
- Myth – You can only get a DUI if you’re impaired by alcohol. Fact – You can be arrested for DUI if you’re impaired by a drug or any other substance (legal or illegal) that causes you to be incapable of driving safely.
Join the conversation on social media to stop impaired driving by using the hashtags #BeSafePA, #StPatricksDay and #DesignatedDriver.
More information on impaired driving can be found at www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District1.
Find PennDOT news for the northwest region on X or Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT: Saxon Daugherty, sadaughert@pa.gov or 814-678-7095
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