Last Friday, a new national crackdown on drunk driving started and will continue through Labor Day Weekend.  The crackdown has a new slogan, “Driver Sober, or Get Pulled Over” but the message remains the same.

No matter what slogan is used, the message is not to drink and drive.  Driving while under the influence of alcohol is a deadly danger that is avoidable. In 2008, 492 people died in Pennsylvania drunk driving accidents.

So, no matter what you call it, no matter what slogan you use to help yourself remember to avoid drinking and driving, our accident and injury attorneys urge you to protect yourself and others by refusing to drink and drive during this national crackdown and at all other times.

Earlier this month, North Middletown Township Police arrested a 23 year old man for driving under the influence.  That is, for driving his bicycle under the influence of alcohol. Police report that the bike rider’s blood alcohol content was 0.30, well above the legal limit of 0.08.

The biker was arrested for driving under the influence, resisting arrest and public drunkenness.  Bail was set at $65,000.

This arrest highlights the dangers of alcohol and driving any type of vehicle.  As a lawyer for accident victims and a son and a friend who has seen the horrors of drunk driving accidents, I applaud the efforts of the local police in keeping the streets of our Commonwealth free from the dangers of drunk driving.

For the ninth straight year, the Pennsylvania State Police have set a record.  In 2010, the State Police arrested 17,695 people for Driving Under the Influence (DUI).  That is more drunk driving arrests than the State Police have ever made in one year and a 5% increase over 2009 arrest statistics. These numbers do not include any arrests made by local police in Pennsylvania.

As a Reading personal injury attorney, I find this trend of increasing DUI arrests interesting.  Some of these arrests occur before an accident and may prevent serious injuries.  The increase in the numbers also sends a message to motorists that the State Police are cracking down on drunk driving and that it is a danger which is not permitted in this state.

Of course, it is up to motorists, and not the police to prevent drunk driving.  The police cannot prevent all DUI accidents.  If you have been hurt, or if you have lost a loved one, in a Pennsylvania drunk driving accident, please contact me today for a free consultation about your legal rights.