For 35 years, the Lycoming County DUI Advisory Council has continued its life-saving work.

In 1987, Lycoming County was the second county in Pennsylvania to receive federal grant money, which was meant to address DUI as it existed in the county.

“At that time, DUI was the most frequently committed violent crime in America,” said Christina Smith, member of the DUI council. “The Advisory Council actually was in place in 1985. When this grant money came through, that’s when we really had more resources to further pursue at the time.”

In early May, the council honored its 35th anniversary with an educational program at the Genetti Hotel.

“The work of reducing impaired driving takes commitment and dedication as change doesn’t happen overnight. But persistence and hard work does show results,” said Wendy Whithaus Cole, assistant executive director. “From the time the Advisory Council began its important work, until today, the DUI fatalities have declined 66% in the county.”

Members of the council, who were present for the celebration, include representatives from DUI law enforcement judges, the coroner’s office and Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, state and local police, DUI victims, Fish and Boat Commission and others.

“Those folks typically are involved in talking about what’s happening from their perspective,” said Chuck Keissling, Lycoming County coroner.

Some of the actions which have taken place over the years to prevent DUI include sobriety checkpoints, training for enforcement to handle DUI, licensee training, educational materials distribution and more.

“The police officers in general, the DUI roving patrols, what they’re doing, especially around the holidays, to try and reduce the number of DUI crashes, especially DUI fatalities,” Kiessling said.

“I’m sure this has significantly impacted and reduced our number of fatal crashes that we’re seeing — if folks get picked up earlier versus after they’ve crashed and done harm to themselves or killed someone. …We had to come up with some unique ways to still get together, talk about DUI and the impact on our community,” he said.

The Lycoming County DUI Advisory Council focuses on “The Three Es” in order to achieve change: Enforcement, Environment and Education.

“Environment was changing the drinking environments in professional establishments and also non-professional service of alcohol,” Smith said. “The whole purpose was to educate licensees how to prevent intoxication.”

“It used to be purely, mostly alcohol related. …Now, unfortunately, it has transitioned from alcohol to other substances, illicit drugs, prescription drugs,” Kiessling said. “There’s a whole new wave of things that impair drivers on the highways. The end result that we see specifically in the coroner’s offices, these folks as a consequence, end up killing themselves or killing someone else while operating motor vehicles while impaired.”

Over the years, the council has been recognized for its work in reducing DUIs. In 1990, the council was given an honorable mention through the National Commission Against Drunk Driving Education Award for DUI Public Information and Education Campaign. The council also received The Mary Ann Bowman Prevention Award in 2020.

“This award is given in memory of Mary Ann Bowman, an extraordinary person and prevention professional,” Cole said.

“Mary Ann was the prevention education coordinator for Twin Lakes and also served as the DUI coordinator for Somerset County,” she added.