Pennsylvania - The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is reminding drivers not to drive under the influence over the St. Patrick's Day holiday weekend.

Pennsylvania State Police, as well as local police departments from around the state, are scheduled to be out monitoring for impaired drivers throughout the weekend.

The following local departments are scheduled to participate in their local DUI Task Forces:

Mercer County – City of Hermitage, Sharpsville Borough, Sharon and Farrell police departments

According to PennDOT 2018 crash data, in the six counties included in PennDOT's northwest region, there were 592 impaired driver crashes, including 25 fatalities. In 2017, there were 699 impaired driver crashes, including 20 fatalities. In 2016, there were 689 impaired driver crashes, 17 of which included fatalities.

PennDOT recommends the following safety tips during holiday celebrations:

• Do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle if alcohol is consumed.
• Designate a sober driver, take public transportation, or use a rideshare app.
• Never let a friend drive impaired by drugs or alcohol.
• Remember, consuming small amounts of alcohol can still impair you enough to get a DUI.
• As a pedestrian, only cross the street at designated crossings.

For more information on crash statistics, click here.