One of the country’s most decorated holidays is also one of the deadliest on its highways.

Local law enforcement officials gathered at Beltzville State Park’s Pine Run Boat Launch on Thursday to remind drivers of automobiles and watercrafts that getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol, using drugs or taking certain medications is a bad idea.“Combating drinking and driving remains a huge point of emphasis, especially around the Fourth of July,” said Carbon County District Attorney Jean Engler. “We’ll be doing that through extensive sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols.”In 2015, alcohol-related crashes increased statewide to 10,558 from 10,550 alcohol-related crashes in 2014. Alcohol related deaths increased to 345 from 333 alcohol-related deaths in 2014.“Of particular concern is the involvement of drinking drivers under the age of 21,” Engler said. “Sixteen percent of the driver deaths in the 16-20 age group were drinking drivers, up from 13 percent in 2014. Improvement in this age group is a very important need.”Twelve percent of all holiday crashes in Pennsylvania involved alcohol use, however, 42 percent of deaths that occurred during holiday weekends were related to alcohol use.According to statistics presented Thursday, 345 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 2015 in Pennsylvania with 93 percent of the victims having been in the vehicle driven by the drinking driver.“It’s just easier not to drink at all if you’re going to be driving,” Engler said. “It’s difficult to self-monitor. Even a slight amount of alcohol can impact your driving ability.”A DUI conviction can involve jail time and the loss of a license.Similar penalties are true for boating under the influence.“When you’re on a boat, the effects of alcohol are magnified,” said Scott Christman of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. “Boating under the influence can result in jail time, the loss of boating privileges and significant fines.”