Have a Safe and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

If you’re heading out to a St. Patrick’s Day celebration this year, make sure you have more than just the luck o’ the Irish on your side. St. Patrick’s Day is one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year, and that, unfortunately, means it is also one of the most deadly holidays on our nation’s roads. From 2014-2018, 249 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18). Do your part this St. Patrick’s Day: arrange for a sober driver to ensure you get home safely.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration lists these other sobering statistics:

• In 2018 alone, 73 people (39% of all crash fatalities) were killed in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period.
• Between midnight and 5:59 a.m. over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period in 2018, more than three out of five (62%) crash fatalities involved a drunk driver.
• Walking home from the bar after a night out partying? In 2018, 33% of the pedestrians aged 16 and older killed in crashes had blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) at or above .08. Arrange for a sober ride or for a sober friend to walk you home.
• Drug-impaired driving is an increasing problem on our nation’s roads. It is illegal to drive while drug-impaired, period. It’s essential for drivers to understand: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.

Celebrate with a Plan

• If you plan to drink, arrange for a sober driver to take you home. Are you the designated driver? Take that role seriously and do not consume even one drink.
• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 9-1-1
• Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.

Do you think you, or a loved one, may have a problem with alcohol?  CLICK HERE for more information on warning signs and how to get the help needed.