Philadelphia, PA – Drivers across Pennsylvania are being urged to use extreme caution this Blackout Wednesday, as early holiday travel, crowded bar districts and rising binge-drinking trends create hazardous conditions along major arteries including I-76, I-95, and I-80.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—nationwide known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of the most alcohol-heavy nights of the year. In 2022, liquor orders surged 156% compared to the prior Wednesday, while beer sales increased 85% and cocktail orders grew 69%. Public-health experts link the spike to short workweeks, holiday stress and pre-Thanksgiving gatherings.
National traffic-safety data shows the risk of encountering an impaired driver on Thanksgiving is 55% higher than on a typical day. Between 2017 and 2021, more than 830 people nationwide were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Pennsylvania State Police and local departments in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie and Harrisburg are launching expanded DUI patrols Wednesday night. Troopers say I-76, I-95, I-80, and nightlife hubs such as Center City Philadelphia, the South Side in Pittsburgh and college districts statewide often see spikes in impairment-related crashes as students return home and bars fill.
Other states report similar patterns. Cities like Indianapolis and Minneapolis say Blackout Wednesday has at times surpassed New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests—a trend law enforcement warns applies to Pennsylvania’s dense highway network and large holiday travel volume.
Drivers are urged to avoid late-night travel, plan sober transportation and immediately report suspected impaired drivers.
