The Indiana County Highway Safety Project, part of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Rural Health and Safety, is working with Jefferson County officials on an awareness campaign about safe driving during the Thanksgiving and holiday seasons.
The day before Thanksgiving is often called “Black Out Wednesday” or “Drunks-giving,” and it is considered by national agencies and law enforcement as one of the most dangerous nights of the year for impaired driving. Representatives of IUP’s Institute for Rural Health and Safety met with Jefferson County officials on November 18 for a media event to bring awareness to the issue of safe driving during the holidays.
Last year in PennDOT District 10, which includes Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, and Jefferson counties, there were 53 traffic fatalities. “Operation Safe Holiday” is the theme for this project.
Front row, from left: IUP Institute for Rural Health and Safety Director Louis Pesci; Pennsylvania State Police Officer Ronald Chewning; PennDOT Safety Press Officer District 10 Tina Gibbs; Jefferson County District Attorney Jeff Burkett; Jefferson County Commissioner Scott North; Pennsylvania State Representative Brian Smith, 66th Legislative District; and Director of the Department of Emergency Services Jefferson County Tracy Zents.
Back row from left: Indiana County Highway Safety Project Coordinator Amy Shellhamer; Pennsylvania State Senator Cris Dush; Jefferson County Commissioner Jeff Pisarcik; Jefferson County Commissioner Mark Humes; and Deputy Director Department of Emergency Services Jefferson County Chris Clark.
IUP’s Institute for Rural Health and Safety received $378,797 in federal funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for the Indiana County Highway Safety Project, a program designed to promote safe driving, including seat belt use, in the region. IUP’s Community Traffic Safety Project coordinator, Amy Shellhamer, is directing the project.
The grant focuses on PennDOT District 10, and through a cooperative agreement with the boards of commissioners of these counties and the IUP Institute of Rural Health and Safety, the program is designed to offer information and education to serve the statistically identified traffic safety needs for groups in those communities.
The IUP Institute for Rural Health and Safety began in the early 1980s as the Highway Safety Center. The mission of the Institute for Rural Health and Safety is to bring together university personnel from various disciplines and professional backgrounds to assist the people of Pennsylvania and national and international organizations in solving problems related to highway traffic safety while maintaining the values of good transportation.
Applying university resources toward traffic improvement, the Institute for Rural Health and Safety is a liaison between university personnel and state and local officials; business, industrial, and professional interests; and other groups and individuals.
Shellhammer is available to present programs to area groups and organizations. She can be reached at 724-357-1352 or Shammer@iup.edu.