December is National Impaired Driving Awareness Month, the Schuylkill County Mental Health/Developmental Services and Drug & Alcohol Programs will be offering their support in bringing awareness to this potentially critical and dangerous behavior.

Banners will be hanging in front of both the Schuylkill County Courthouse 401 N. Second St., Pottsville, and the Human Services building at 410 N. Centre St., Pottsville, for the remaining part of the month of December.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 3,697 Pennsylvanians from 2009-2018 were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol impaired driver.

Nationally, 1.7% of people surveyed reported driving after drinking in excess.

In Pennsylvania, 1.8% admitted driving after drinking too much.

In Pennsylvania it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.08%.

When a driver’s BAC is above a state’s legal limit on alcohol consumption they are considered alcohol impaired by law.

Nationally, more than 10,000 people die in crashes each year involving an alcohol impaired driver.

Some strategies put in place in Pennsylvania to reduce and prevent impaired driving include: impaired driving laws, legal drinking age of 21, publicized sobriety check points, high visibility saturation patrols during certain times of year when drinking and driving are more likely and at locations of numerous crashes that have involved an impaired driver, ignition interlocks for all convicted offenders, treatment programs, drug and alcohol screenings, interventions and school based instruction on prevention.

Members of the community can contact the Schuylkill County Administrative Offices of Mental Health/Developmental Services and Drug & Alcohol Programs for more information on services available at 570-621-2890.