With the end of daylight saving time, and the beginning of the holiday season, driving around the Lehigh Valley is getting a bit more dangerous.
State Police are unveiling traffic enforcement plans as they hope to cut down on crashes.
State Police are going to start their enforcement effort with a DUI checkpoint this weekend. They want to make sure it’s safe for your family heading into the holidays.
Whether it’s a major highway, or a busy secondary road, getting around the Lehigh Valley can be enough to drive you crazy!
“A lot of the kids speeding up and down Schoenersville Road, her and Airport Road. It’s pretty bad,” said Nick Lynn of North Catasauqua.
“I took side streets today out of Bethlehem, everything’s shut down,” said Tony Cimo of Walnutport. “Traffic being backed up, road construction, and then I get up here to Schoenersville Road and they’re working on power lines. So traffic is terrible here lately.”
Troop M announces that Thanksgiving Holiday Enforcement will begin next Wednesday, the 26th, and continue through Sunday, November 30th.
“You’re going to be seeing more troopers out on the road, and we’re going to be targeting those drivers who drive aggressively,” said Trooper Nathan Branosky.
State Police say last year, there were 1,075 crashes between November 27th and December 1st. Almost 200 people were injured, and seven people died. Including one involving Branosky’s troop.
“It’s a terrible feeling. Troopers do have to do death notifications to families. Especially this time of season. It’s terrible. It’s something that stays with families for the rest of their lives and it stays with the trooper as well,” Branosky said.
Last year, Troop M alone handed out more than 11-hundred citations and made 33 DUI arrests.
“Drive safely,” Cimo said.
Troopers want to make sure there are no fatalities this year, so they’ll be on the roads doing proactive enforcement.
“Obey the speed limit and follow the laws. Save yourself some money,” said Lynn.