PUNXSUTAWNEY — State police will be out in full force over Labor Day weekend, making sure motorists are traveling safely.
According to Capt. Bernard J. Petrovsky, commanding officer of Troop C in Punxsutawney, roadways will be aggressively patrolled to reduce the number of crashes, and more importantly the number of of fatal crashes.
With Labor Day being the last major holiday of the summer, many people will take the opportunity to have cookouts and gather with friends and relatives. State troopers ask motorists to remember to obey posted speed limits, buckle up and do not drink and drive while traveling to and from these events.
Speed is the leading cause of crashes in Pennsylvania; therefore, troopers will be focusing heavily on reducing the speed of vehicles traveling throughout the area. Troopers will also be enforcing the seatbelt and child passenger seat laws because motorists and passengers, including children that are properly restrained, are less likely to be injured or killed in a crash.
As a reminder to motorists traveling with children this holiday weekend, according to Pennsylvania Law, children under the age of two must be properly secured in an approved rear-facing child safety seat when riding in a vehicle, children from two to four years of age should be placed in an approved forward-facing safety seat, and children four years of age to eight years of age should ride in an approved booster seat. With high back booster seats, these children can be comfortably secured in some vehicles until they reach 100 pounds or more.
Labor Day also signals the beginning of a new school year. When school is in, motorists should exercise extreme care when traveling. Children walking to school or waiting for buses are in close proximity to roadways, and increase the potential for pedestrian/motor vehicle collisions.
In addition, school buses will be taking to the roads, transporting students to and from school. Never tailgate a bus and never pass a bus with red lights flashing. Passing a school bus with red lights flashing will result in a substantial fine and license suspension.
