St. Patrick’s Day is supposed to be about parades, green beer, and good times. Too often it ends with flashing lights, body bags, and families shattered because someone decided they were “fine to drive.” This year law enforcement across the country is begging you not to become another statistic.
The Sobering Numbers Behind the Holiday
From 2018 to 2022, an average of 73 people died in alcohol-related crashes on St. Patrick’s Day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That is one death every two hours during the evening and overnight hours.
In 2022 alone, 39% of all fatal crashes on March 17 involved a drunk driver, far above the yearly average. During the nighttime hours (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.), the rate jumps to 69%.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that St. Patrick’s Day now ranks as one of the deadliest nights of the year, right alongside New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July.
Police Are Out in Force This Weekend
Departments from California to New York have already announced increased patrols and DUI checkpoints running from Friday night through Monday morning.
In Colorado, the Grand Junction Police Department is running extra traffic units all weekend. Motor Officer Vaughn Soderquist told KJCT that officers will be watching bars and party zones closely.
Similar operations are underway in major cities:
- Los Angeles: LAPD “maximum enforcement period”
- Chicago: CPD saturation patrols in bar districts
- Boston: MSP and local police running sobriety checkpoints
- New York: NYPD adding DWI units in Manhattan and Brooklyn
“If you are out celebrating, we will find you if you get behind the wheel impaired,” said Lieutenant Mike McGury of the Colorado State Patrol. “We would rather ruin your night with a ticket than ruin a family’s life forever.”
Simple Choices That Save Lives
The message from every agency is the same: plan ahead.
Have a designated driver who drinks nothing. Not one beer, not one shot, nothing.
Use Uber, Lyft, or local taxi services. Many rideshare companies offer discounts on St. Patrick’s Day, check the apps.
If you are hosting, collect keys at the door and serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic options.
Eat before and while you drink. Food slows alcohol absorption.
Alternate alcoholic drinks with water. It keeps you hydrated and paces your intake.
Never let a friend drive drunk. Take their keys, call them a ride, or keep them at your place overnight.
Spot an Impaired Driver? Call It In Immediately
If you see a vehicle swerving, driving way under the speed limit, braking erratically, or hugging the center line, do not wait.
Dial 911 and give the dispatcher:
- Vehicle make, model, and color
- License plate if you can read it
- Direction of travel and location
Stay on the line until police confirm they have the vehicle in sight. You might save multiple lives with one call.
Give Stopped Officers Plenty of Room
If you see blue lights ahead, slow down and move over. In most states it is the law.
Grand Junction Motor Officer Vaughn Soderquist added: “Find a safe spot on the right as quickly as you can, whether that is the shoulder or a parking lot. And if you are coming up on a stop, get over to the left and give us room to work.”
Officers are at their most vulnerable during traffic stops. Giving them space could save their life too.
Pedestrians Die Too on This Night
Revelers walking between bars are often just as impaired as the drivers.
Police urge everyone to use crosswalks, make eye contact with drivers, and put phones away.
Drivers must slow down in bar districts and downtown areas where people will be crossing streets all night.
The combination of drunk drivers and drunk pedestrians is lethal. Do not become part of that equation.
This St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate responsibly. Raise a glass to the people you love, then make sure you get home to them safely.
Have you ever had to take keys from a friend or call a ride for someone? Share your story below, it might be the one that convinces someone else to make the right choice tonight. Use #DriveSober if you post on social media so others see it.
