Erie, Pa. \u2013 The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and its safety partners are reminding motorists of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol in advance of Super Bowl weekend.<\/p>\n
Representatives from PennDOT, the City of Erie, the Erie County District Attorney\u2019s Office, the Pennsylvania DUI Association, the Highway Safety Network, and State Farm Insurance hosted an event today at Erie City Council Chambers to kick off a statewide enforcement campaign that will run through the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore choosing what team to root for this Sunday, make a game plan to ensure everyone has a sober ride home,\u201d said Maggie Nunley, a Regional Program Administrator with the Pennsylvania DUI Association.<\/p>\n
Although there can be obvious signs of impairment from drugs or alcohol, such as slurred speech, unsteadiness when walking, poor coordination, and glassy or red eyes, some people could be intoxicated without these physical indicators.<\/p>\n
“That is why it is important to prepare before anyone has their first drink,” Nunley said.<\/p>\n
According to preliminary PennDOT data, there were 57 impaired driving crashes statewide last year between Super Bowl Sunday and 6:00 AM the following day. These crashes resulted in three fatalities and 36 injuries.<\/p>\n
The Erie County DUI Task Force announced today it will be conducting roving patrols throughout the weekend to help keep impaired drivers off area roadways.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur police officers are dedicated to making Erie a safe, thriving place for all community members, and the work of those serving on the Erie County DUI Task Force is a critical part of that commitment,\u201d said City of Erie Mayor Daria S. Devlin. \u201cI thank them for their service, and I encourage everyone to enjoy Sunday’s game responsibly by making safety a part of their\u00a0plans.”<\/p>\n
The task force is partially funded through PennDOT\u2019s Police Traffic Services (PTS) Enforcement Grant, which is designed to facilitate coordination of local police assets in impaired driving, occupant protection, aggressive driving, and pedestrian safety enforcement countermeasures.<\/p>\n
The PTS grant is part of PennDOT\u2019s statewide distribution of federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).<\/p>\n
The Erie County DUI task force is comprised of the following law enforcement agencies: the City of Erie Police Department, Millcreek Township Police Department, Edinboro Police Department, Lawrence Park Police Department, Girard Police Department, Lake City Police Department, North East Police Department, Wesleyville Police Department, Union City Police Department, PennWest University \u2013 Edinboro Police Department, Erie County Detective Bureau, and the Erie County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
For the second consecutive year, City of Erie Police Department Patrolman Jeffrey Parker, who made the second most DUI arrests in Pennsylvania last year, was recognized for his excellence in enforcement in November at the Pennsylvania DUI Association\u2019s 46th Annual Meeting and Training Conference.<\/p>\n
Parker was one of 49 state and municipal law enforcement officers presented with a DUI Top Gun Award.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very grateful to be mentioned alongside some of the best law enforcement officers Pennsylvania has to offer when it comes to combating impaired driving. I take this role seriously because lives are at stake and I want to be part of the solution by enforcing our state\u2019s laws and educating drivers on what they can do to stay safe,\u201d Parker said.<\/p>\n
In addition to enforcement initiatives, PennDOT, the Highway Safety Network, State Farm Insurance, and a number of pizzerias in the region are partnering for a box top flyer campaign to urge designated driving leading up to and during Super Bowl celebrations.<\/p>\n
State Farm funded the purchase of flyers distributed in Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties through its Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grants. The grants are awarded to build safer, stronger, and better-educated communities across the United States by focusing on safety, education, and community development.<\/p>\n
The following businesses are participating in campaign in the northwest region:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Big\u2019s Pizza and Subs, Warren, Warren County\u2022 Cornerstone Lounge, Warren, Warren County\u2022 Pizza Joe\u2019s, Hermitage, Franklin and Mercer, Mercer and Venango counties\u2022 Little Caesar\u2019s, Franklin, Venango County\u2022 John\u2019s Wildwood Pizzeria, Erie, Erie County\u2022 Ippa Pizza Napoletana, Erie, Erie County\u2022 Maria\u2019s Pizza, Erie, Erie County\u2022 Bella Bella Mozzarella, Meadville, Crawford County\u2022 Sicily Rose, Meadville, Crawford County<\/p>\n
\u201cWe printed thousands of flyers for these businesses to distribute during Super Bowl weekend as an extension of our efforts to spread a message of sober driving,\u201d said Mike Tautin, a Community Traffic Safety Project Coordinator with the Highway Safety Network. \u201cOur hope is that this simple physical reminder will spark a change in driver behavior and lead to a reduction in the number of impaired driving crashes on our roadways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Join the conversation on social media by using the hashtags #BeSafePA #DriveSober #DontDrinkAndDrive #DesignatedDriver #BuzzedDriving #SuperBowlSafety.<\/p>\n