ROAD WATCH for Jan. 25
FANS DON’T LET FANS DRIVE DRUNK
Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1, not only is one of America’s biggest national sporting events as friends and families gather to watch the game, it is also one of the most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving.
George C. Geisler Jr., director of law enforcement services, Pennsylvania DUI Association, in Harrisburg, says last year fatalities in alcohol-impaired driving crashes nationwide accounted for 32 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities.
On Super Bowl Sunday – 12:01 a.m. Sunday to 5:59 a.m. Monday – 48 percent of the fatalities nationwide occurred in crashes where a driver or motorcycle rider had a blood-alcohol concentration level of .08 and higher.
Closer to home, Pennsylvanians were involved in 82 impaired-driving crashes, causing two fatalities.
“We want to pass our safety message to everyone who will be drinking next weekend, real Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk,” said C. Stephen Erni, PA DUI Association executive director.
“Please call the right play for the big game and pass your keys to a designated driver before the Super Bowl party begins,” Erni said. “Getting caught driving while impaired will result in a costly penalty from local law enforcement and may even result in a turnover of your driving privileges.”
Impaired-driving crashes and fatalities can be prevented by designating a sober driver who should be on the top of everyone’s Super Bowl party list, but there are other ways you can help save lives, too, he said.
--- You can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served alcohol to ends up in an impaired-driving crash.
---- Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.
--- Serve lots of food and include lots of non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
--- Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.
--- Keep the numbers for the local cab companies handy and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.
--- Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself, eat enough food, take breaks and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
--- If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home, call a cab, friend or family member to come get you, or stay where you are – if not at a public establishment – and sleep it off until you are sober.
Last but not least, clip these tips out for your family or friends.
WATER MAIN WORK
Aqua Pennsylvania will restrict traffic on Route 1 (Baltimore Pike) at the Riddle Memorial Hospital Complex in Middletown beginning Monday for water main installation.
Route 1 will be restricted 8 p.m.-6 a.m. weekdays through Feb. 9.
Aqua will perform the work on Route 1 between Route 352 and Granite Drive under a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit.
BRIDGE INSPECTIONS
The left lane will be closed on the northbound I-95/Girard Point Bridge in Philadelphia Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for bridge inspections.
TURNPIKE OPEN HOUSE
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will hold an Open House Plans Display meeting 6-9 p.m. Tuesday to show engineering design plans for the total reconstruction and six-lane widening of I-76 from milepost 320 to milepost 326 – future Route 29 slip ramps to Valley Forge Interchange) in Chester and Montgomery counties.
The six-lane widening project will be west of Valley Forge Exit 326 to Route 29.
The public meeting will be held at the Vanguard School Activities Center, 1777 North Valley Road, Paoli.
For the past seven months, turnpike personnel and consultants have worked closely with DEP, the Chester County Conservation District, legislators and township officials to address noise and environmental concerns brought up at that time.
DRIVE SAFE PA CONTEST
PennDOT is inviting high school students across the state to help remind motorists to “Drive Safe PA” through a unique contest.
High school sophomores, juniors and seniors are invited to create a 30-second radio public service announcement focused on aggressive driving, buckling up or driving under the influence.
The PSA must include the phrase “Drive Safe PA,” which PennDOT is introducing as part of its continued commitment to highway safety.
“As young drivers, high school students have a fresh perspective on the importance of safe driving,” said PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler.
“Our hope is that through this competition, teens will start to talk more about safe driving behaviors and use their creativity to spread the word to others about how to drive safely through Drive Safe PA,” he said.
There were 1,491 fatalities in the state in 2007; of those, 101 fatalities involved a 16- or 17-year-old driver, which was an increase from 68 in 2006.
Students can submit a completed audio PSA or written script which can be sent via e-mail to RA-penndotpressstate.pa.us or mailed to PennDOT Press Office, c/o Alison Wenger, 8th Floor-Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120.
Entries must be postmarked or received by Feb. 28.
For complete contest rules, visit www.dot.state.pa.us and click on Drive Safe PA.
Traffic Delays
Upper Chichester – U.S. Route 322, bridge repairs begin Monday between I-95 and Pennell Road (Route 452), 24- hour restriction through Feb. 12.
Collingdale – MacDade Boulevard, utility installation between Collingdale and Felton avenues, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays. Work began Jan. 20.
Marple – Media Line Road, Aqua utility installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May. Work began Jan. 12.
Chester – Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
U.S. Route 1 North -- PECO Energy utility installation between Red Roof Road and Pennell Road (Route 452) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 18. Work began Dec. 22.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.