Pennsylvania Launches Operation Safe Holiday Driving Enforcement |Romanow Law Group

A holiday-themed graphic for National Impaired Driving Prevention Month in December. The text is centered against a green surface decorated with red and gold Christmas ornaments, with warm, blurred string lights in the background.

Impaired drivers put everyone on the road at risk

Several state agencies in Pennsylvania recently joined forces as part of Operation Safe Holiday Driving, a program designed to educate drivers about the dangers of drunk driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and other dangerous driving habits often associated with car accidents during the holidays.

“These enforcement efforts are not about tickets; they are about saving lives,” Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet said in an interview with PennWatch. “Before hitting the road this holiday season, make a plan to get home safely! Designate a sober driver or plan to take a ride share. Put your phone down and always buckle up. Wearing your seat belt is your best defense against injury or death in the event of a crash.”

What is Operation Safe Holiday Driving?

Operation Safe Holiday Driving is an annual road safety campaign run by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and Pennsylvania Insurance Department, according to PennWatch.

The annual holiday traffic safety program focuses on reminding drivers in Pennsylvania “to wear their seat belts, drive sober, and eliminate distractions behind the wheel,” according to PennWatch.

“The Pennsylvania State Police is committed to ensuring the safety of everyone traveling on the highways and secondary roads of our Commonwealth,” PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris said in an interview with PennWatch. “We have zero tolerance for impaired driving. Always wear your seat belt, drive sober, and eliminate distractions behind the wheel.”

How common are holiday drunk driving accidents in Pennsylvania?

Unfortunately, drunk drivers often cause serious or fatal accidents around the holidays every year in Pennsylvania.

Last year, drivers under the influence of alcohol caused 857 alcohol-related accidents in Pennsylvania from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through Jan. 2, 2025, according to PennDOT data. Those accidents resulted in 18 deaths and 542 injuries.

To put such numbers in perspective, drivers under the influence of alcohol cause more than 320 drunk driving fatalities each year in Pennsylvania, according to the most recent accident data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Is drunk driving a problem in Pittsburgh?

Unfortunately, yes. Each year, drivers under the influence of alcohol cause dozens of accidents that often result in fatalities in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh.

Specifically, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher (the legal limit for impaired driving in Pennsylvania) caused an average of 21 drunk driving deaths in Alleghany County between 2019 and 2023, according to the most recent NHTSA data.

What other dangerous driving habits cause accidents around the holidays?

Along with drinking and driving, drivers in Pennsylvania often engage in other dangerous driving habits that often result in car accidents around the holidays. Such bad driving habits include:

Texting while driving.
Operating a GPS while driving.
Speeding, especially driving too fast in bad weather conditions.
Making phone calls while driving.
Falling asleep at the wheel.
Aggressive or reckless driving, including tailgating.

What’s being done to prevent holiday car accidents?

State officials and police are taking many steps this holiday season in Pennsylvania to prevent car accidents and keep everyone safe on the road.

Specifically, the Holiday Season Impaired Driving Campaign began Nov. 19 and runs through Jan. 1, according to PennWatch. Earlier this year, Operation Safe Holiday kicked off Nov. 10 with the “Click It or Ticket” (CIOT) campaign, which focused on getting people to wear their seatbelts, as part of the Thanksgiving Enforcement Mobilization, which ran through Nov. 30.

Pennsylvania requires any occupant younger than 18 to buckle up when riding in a vehicle, as well as drivers and front-seat passengers, according to PennWatch.

And throughout the holiday season, state and local police in Pennsylvania will be out in force, protecting the public as part of Operation Safe Holiday, which includes:

Conducting sobriety checkpoints.
Roving police patrols.
Regular traffic safety patrols to crack down on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Romanow Law Group holds negligent drivers accountable

Personal injury claims involving crashes caused by drunk drivers might seem straightforward. Another driver was drunk and crashed into your car.

Unfortunately, these seemingly clear-cut cases can quickly turn into fierce legal battles. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced Pittsburgh car accident lawyer on your side to protect your rights and aggressively advocate for your best interests.

Our Pittsburgh drunk driving accident attorneys at Romanow Law Group have been fighting for the rights of crash victims for years. We know how to find the facts that matter, build strong cases, and fight for every dollar our clients deserve.

If you or someone you love has been injured by a drunk driver in Pittsburgh, contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation. There are no up front costs, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

“Do not think twice about hiring this firm! Do not think twice about calling David Romanow! Only just one phone call away! Thanks, Dave, you are the man!” – Aubrey C., car accident claim