Pittsburgh is Beefing Up DUI Patrols in 2017

In August, a Pittsburgh man was arrested on felony homicide by vehicle charges after his passenger was thrown from his car in a crash, killing her. Police said he was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana.

Earlier this month, good Samaritans pulled a DUI driver from her burning vehicle after she struck an abandoned car and flipped both automobiles, which then caught fire.

Sadly, these headlines often dominate the news, reinforcing what top state safety officials have long been trumpeting to the general public: Drivers climbing behind the wheel while high on drugs and alcohol remains a top safety issue in Pennsylvania.

Thankfully, the City of Pittsburgh—armed with a six-figure grant—is doing something to try to change that.

City council voted to accept a $190,000 grant through the state Department of Transportation, which will bankroll additional:

• DUI checkpoints
• Roving DUI patrols
• Roving patrols to seek out seatbelt violations

In a word: Bravo.

The car accident injury attorneys at Edgar Snyder & Associates see the aftermath of many DUI-related crashes. The mangled steel and shattered glass seen in crash photos tell only part of the story.

We also see what happens to the innocent victims of these accidents. Their lives are shattered—they have severe and sometimes life-long injuries. They have rigorous medical regimens, mounting bills and constant panic about how they will pay their bills and support their families if they can't work.

All that devastation—all because someone made a decision to imbibe and then drive.

DUI accidents in Pennsylvania happen more than many like to admit. In 2014:

• There were 333 DUI-related traffic deaths.
• There were more than 10,500 DUI-related car accidents.
• Alcohol-related traffic deaths composed nearly a third of all fatal motor-vehicle crashes.

We applaud the City of Pittsburgh for stepping up its efforts in cracking down on DUIs, and we ask all of our friends in and around the 'Burgh to do their part, too: Please, don't drink and drive.

Call a cab. Summon an Uber. Take a bus. Sleep it off at your buddy's house.

We hope your life is never touched by a DUI-related crash. But if it is—if you or someone you care about is seriously injured in crash because of the negligence of a drunk driver—we can help. Just give us a call. We're here for you 24/7. The case review is free, and there's never a fee unless we get money for you.