According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,142 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2019 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. With Fourth of July festivities wrapping up late in the evening, more cars will be on the roads at night. In 2019, 515 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the July Fourth holiday period (6 p.m. July 3 to 5:59 a.m. July 8). Of those, 38% (198) occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.

“We want our community to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday, but we also want responsible drivers on the roads,” said Officer Joel Gulla, Lehighton Police Department & Carbon County Coordinator for the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program. “We repeat this message constantly, but it is still a critical issue: Drunken driving is deadly and illegal. Remember: If you are caught drinking and driving, we will pull you over, and you will likely be arrested. Driving under the influence of any substance will land you a DUI.”

From 2015 to 2019, 1,339 drivers were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the Fourth of July holiday period, with 38% (512) of the drivers killed were alcohol-impaired (BAC of 0.08+). During the 2019 July Fourth holiday period, 69% of those who died in alcohol-impaired crashes were in a crash involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.15.

Nighttime hours are especially dangerous: Over the 2019 July Fourth holiday period, of the 198 people who died in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle traffic crashes, almost 4 out of 5 (79%) of them occurred in nighttime crashes (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.).

“Sadly, many people think driving impaired is no big deal,” Gulla said. “We’ve seen it all, and we can spot a drunken driver on the road. A DUI will follow you throughout your life, so this is a gamble that’s just not worth taking. Under no circumstances is it ever acceptable to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after you’ve been drinking. Doing so endangers you, your passengers, and everyone on the road with you.”

The North Central Highway Safety Network’s Regional DUI Enforcement Group, along with the Lehighton Borough Police Department, have announced sobriety checkpoints & DUI roving patrols will be conducted now through Monday on state routes 248, 209, 903, 902, and 443.

The checkpoints are part of a statewide crackdown on impaired driving being conducted across the state for the Fourth of July weekend. Specially trained officers, drug recognition experts, who can spot symptoms of drug-induced impairment will be available statewide to detect drug impaired drivers.

Travelers are reminded to report drunken drivers by dialing 911. To report underage drinking call 1-888-UNDER-21.

Sobriety Checkpoints are funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.