Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation in fatal car crashes involving teen drivers during the holiday season between 2000 and 2007, according to a new study released by Allstate Insurance. The study which measured crashes from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day found that 187 deadly crashes over that eight-year stretch occurred while teens were behind the wheel in the Keystone state.
Texas led the nation with 456 teen driver-involved deadly collisions over the same span, followed by California, 451; Florida, 378; Pennsylvania and Georgia, 185. Any of these fatal crashes may have resulted in multiple deaths.
More than a third of the deadly collisions - 66 - over that period occurred in the Philadelphia metro area. The region had a fatal crash rate of just over two fatal crashes per 100,000 teens. That ranked Philadelphia 32nd among the nation's largest metro areas. Three out of the top five deadliest of U.S. metro areas were in Florida: Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando, followed by Birmingham, Ala., and Kansas City, Mo.
The study findings by Allstate continues the company's national Home for the Holidays public awareness campaign. The focus of the campaign is to encourage parents to have the safe driving talk with their teens this holiday season. The perfect way to help make that conversation happen is by using the Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract, which helps families lay out expectations for smart driving decisions and consequences if those expectations are not met.
The contract is free and can be downloaded from www.allstate.com/teen.
A more detailed breakdown on the study results can be found at http://media.allstate.com/.

PICKPOCKET ALERT

'Tis the season for pickpockets and SEPTA police are advising riders on how to guard against them. Pickpocketing increases during the holiday season because of increased crowds. Not only do people carry more cash, the large crowds give the pick pocket the opportunity to "accidentally" bump into shoppers. Officers from the SEPTA Community Affairs Unit will be out at stops along the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines handing out safety pamphlets to riders.
The pamphlet titled "Eight Tips Pickpockets Don't Want You to Know," lists security tips for riders. The number one safety travel tip is "don't flash your cash," have your fare ready in the form of a SEPTA token or TransPass and keep it in a different location than in your wallet. Other tips include:
BULLET People in crowds should be alert while waiting for a bus, train or trolley.
• Don't keep your wallet in your back pants pocket.
• Don't carry a long-strap pocketbook over your shoulder. If possible wear it under your coat.
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages so you become a tempting target.
• Keep your purse, shopping bag, backpack, packages, etc., in your lap, on your arm or between your feet - not by themselves on an empty seat.
• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, "con artists" may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.
• Keep keys readily available in your pockets to prevent fumbling when you arrive at your car or home.
SEPTA's Transit Police Department Community Relations Unit conducts transit safety programs for schools, civic and senior organizations within the region. Call 215-580-5747 to schedule a safety presentation.

OPERATION SAFE HOLIDAY

PennDOT, the Pennsylvania DUI Association, local police and the University of Pennsylvania joined together on the Penn campus recently to kick off Operation Safe Holiday, seeking to reduce highway crashes and fatalities for the holiday season.
The statewide enforcement and education initiative targets three of the leading factors associated with crashes: impaired driving, aggressive driving and unbelted occupants.
Highway crashes are the leading cause of death among young adults in Pennsylvania and nationwide. For people aged 21-25, half of their highway deaths in the state last year involved drunk driving.
Lou Belmonte, PennDOT District Traffic Safety Engineer said, "always buckle up. Never drive impaired. Have a designated driver. Don't speed, or run red lights. Take extra care if you're walking or bicycling."
The DUI Victims" Moving Memorial was at the Penn campus last week to help communicate the safe driving message. The memorial is an exact replica of the permanent DUI Victims' Memorial Garden in Harrisburg. On the 25-foot interior wall are the names of more than 1,000 DUI victims from throughout the state.
Operation Safe Holiday kicked off before Thanksgiving and continues through the Christmas and New Year's holidays. PennDOT channels federal grant funds to more than 100 police departments in the five-county southeast Pennsylvania region, including Delaware County, the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia police departments. The money pays overtime for police to conduct additional safety enforcement.
Traffic Delays
Chester Township - Concord Road, PECO Energy utility installation between McDonald Boulevard and North Commerce Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 23. Work began Nov. 21.Route 1 North/South - Chadds Ford and Concord, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation with lane restrictions between Black Horse Lane and Route 352 (Middletown Road) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 19. Work began Oct. 27.Route 1 South - Middletown, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation between Middletown Road and Elwyn Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 19. Work began Oct. 27.Media Line Road - Marple and Newtown, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation, closed/detoured between West Chester Pike (Route 3) and Gradyville Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 15. Work began Oct. 6.Haverford - Darby Road closed/detoured between Route 320 and Marple Road, road widening/utility installation, weekdays and Saturdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m. through Dec. 30. Work began May 27.
"Road Watch" appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.

Shoppers: Start your engines — but drive carefully!
There are countless signs for stopping, sharp curves and blind hills, but one sign that is particularly needed — on mall parking lots — during the holiday shopping season is one urging motorists to slow down and adhere to the directional arrow markings in the lanes.
Mall and shopping strip parking lots can especially become hazardous during the holiday shopping season when people get caught up in the hustle-bustle of running around looking for gifts.
Driving around in circles trying to find that rare parking spot at your favorite mall is hard enough, but that doesn’t mean you have to forget using common courtesy or driving cautiously. Also, it doesn’t mean you have to be in a rush about backing out of a space to the detriment of a passing vehicle.
AAA Mid-Atlantic has also issued tips for keeping safe in parking lots during the holiday shopping season.
“Think safety first,” says Cathy Rossi, a spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Trust your instincts and take some simple safety steps to protect yourself and your valuables.”
Here’s some safety tips for shoppers:
 Shop during daylight hours whenever possible.
 Shop with family or friends, especially at night.
 Try to park in a well-lit area or near a well-traveled roadway.
 Keep your gifts/purchases in your trunk and out of plain sight by covering them up.
 If you have to put packages in your vehicle and return to shopping, move your car to a different area. If someone is watching, you’ll throw them off.
 Leave your purse or wallet at home. Carry your credit card in your front pocket. If you must carry a purse or wallet, make sure to keep it close to your body or in your front pocket.
 Most of all, beware of your surroundings. When returning to your car, have keys in hand. If you notice someone watching you or acting suspicious, return to the store and ask for a mall security escort.
 Don’t overload. Avoid overloading yourself with too many bags. Always keep one arm free in case of emergency.
 Save the most expensive gifts/purchases for the end of your shopping trip so you can head straight home instead of leaving them unattended in your car.
Gas Budget
Philadelphia area residents are spending about $200 less a month on gas this week than they would have during the middle of summer, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.
As gas prices fall to levels not seen since early 2005, families are saving money on gas during these otherwise tough economic times.
The average family in the five-county Philadelphia area, including Delaware County, now has $201 more in their pocket than they did back in June.
Calculations approximate that the average family drives about 23,100 miles each year — sometimes using two vehicles — and the average vehicle gets about 20 miles per gallon.
“Lower gas prices will help families as we enter into the holiday shopping season,” said AAA’s Rossi. “AAA projects gas prices may drop even further in the weeks ahead.”
Schuylkill Expressway
Overnight lane closures are scheduled this week on the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) between the South Street and I-676 interchanges in Philadelphia for overhead bridge construction, PennDOT said.
I-76 East will be reduced from two lanes to one Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning.
I-76 West will be reduced from two lanes to one on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning.
The work is weather dependent.
The operation is part of PennDOT’s $18 million project to rehabilitate the JFK Boulevard Bridge over the Schuylkill River and to make structural repairs to the deck carrying Schuylkill Avenue over I-76.
Construction began in early April and is scheduled to finish in February.
SEPTASafety
SEPTA recently honored employees for their years of outstanding dedication to safety during their 15th Annual Safety Awards Banquet at the Philadelphia Sheraton Center City Hotel.
“Ensuring the safety of our employees and customers is a goal SEPTA works towards daily,” a spokesman said. “These recipients reflect the tireless hard work of our valuable employees in our effort to provide safe, reliable public transportation service for the region.”
Among those honored by General Manager Joseph Casey was Joseph Sophia, a 30-year Safety Award recipient.
Traffic Delays
Collingdale — MacDade Boulevard, utility installation between Collingdale and Felton avenues 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Chester Township — Concord Road, PECO Energy utility installation between McDonald Boulevard and North Commerce Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 23. Work began Nov. 21.
Chestnut Parkway — Nether Providence and Chester, PECO Energy utility maintenance with lane restrictions between Harvey Road and 24th Street, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 1. Work began Nov. 4.
Chester — Flower Street, ramp construction, closed/detoured between Second and Front streets, 24-hour closure through Dec. 5. Work began Nov. 5.
Route 1 North/South — Chadds Ford and Concord, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation with lane restrictions between Black Horse Lane and Route 352 (Middletown Road) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 19. Work began Oct. 27.
Route 1 South — Middletown, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation between Middletown Road and Elwyn Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 19. Work began Oct. 27.
Media Line Road — Marple and Newtown, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation, closed/detoured between West Chester Pike (Route 3) and Gradyville Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 15. Work began Oct. 6.
Haverford — Darby Road closed/detoured between Route 320 and Marple Road, road widening/utility installation, weekdays and Saturdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m. through Dec. 30. Work began May 27.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.