Motorists Encouraged to Put Safety First This Fourth of July

PennDOT, State Police Offer Safe-Driving Tips

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 29 -- With millions of people expected to travel this Fourth of July weekend, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police are urging motorists to drive safely and prevent accidents.

"Two of the biggest steps motorists can take to ensure safety are to wear their seat belts and never drink and drive," PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E., said. "Another step to increase highway safety this holiday is to avoid aggressive driving. We encourage all drivers to share the road and be respectful to their fellow drivers."

During last year's Fourth of July holiday, 23 people lost their lives and more than 1,000 crashes were reported.

"We repeat the seat belt safety message every holiday, but it's evident that some people aren't paying attention," said Colonel Jeffrey B. Miller, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. "I urge every driver and passenger to buckle up before they start any trip."

According to PennDOT, there were eight fatalities during the 2005 holiday in which the person was not wearing a seat belt.

In addition to seat belts, PennDOT urges motorists to never drink and drive. Of the more than 1,000 crashes last year, 151 were alcohol-related and 12 people were killed in alcohol-related accidents.

Another important safety tip is to turn on your car's headlights and follow the posted speed limits in work zones. Even though workers may not be present, there are still barriers or lane changes in effect that require caution and reduced speeds.

  PennDOT urges motorists to follow these tips:
  *  Pay full attention to the road whenever you get behind the wheel.
     Avoid distractions.
  *  Don't tailgate.  Always maintain a safe distance between vehicles.
  *  Always signal your intentions in advance.  Use turn signals.
  *  Use headlights during times of low visibility.
  *  When traveling long distances, take frequent breaks and rotate drivers
     to reduce fatigue.
  *  Provide children with only soft books or plush toys and keep vehicles
     free of unnecessary items.  Hard toys or other objects can cause
     injuries in the event of a sudden stop or crash.
  *  On multi-lane roads, state law says motorists must drive on the right
     and pass on the left.
  *  In the event of a minor accident, involved drivers should immediately
     drive their vehicles to a safe place, out of the flow of traffic.

For more information, visit PennDOT's Web site at http://www.dot.state.pa.us/.

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