St. Patrick’s Day means a much anticipated day of celebrating and drinking with friends for many people. But the celebrations involving alcohol have made St. Patrick’s Day one of the most dangerous days for road travel, due to the large numbers of drunk drivers that are often out on the roads.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 103 crash fatalities in the United States on St. Patrick’s Day in 2009.
Of those 103 St. Patrick’s Day fatal automobile accidents, 37 percent involved a drunk driver with blood alcohol content over the legal limit of 0.08%.
NHTSA has released the following tips that will allow you to enjoy celebrating St. Patrick’s Day without being arrested for DUI and without endangering either yourself or an innocent motorist:
- Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
- Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
- If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.
- If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement.
- If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
Even though the sign of St. Patrick’s Day is the shamrock and it is supposed to signify luck, St. Patrick’s Day celebrants should not rely on luck to keep themselves and others safe after imbibing alcohol.
