Remember: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in America date back to the country’s founding. While this year’s celebration may look a little different in your hometown, however you celebrate, make sure you and your friends stay safe this St. Paddy’s Day. Remember this one important piece of advice: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. This means if you plan to drink any alcoholic beverage, it’s essential you plan for a sober, designated driver beforehand. If you’re the designated driver, make sure you keep that promise of safety to yourself and your passengers.
Below are some tips for celebrating safely.
Designate your sober driver or have an alternate transportation plan before the party begins.
If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, Lyft or Uber, a friend or family member to come and get you; or just stay where you are and don’t drive until you are completely sober.
Use your community’s sober ride program.
Never let a friend drive drunk. Take action and arrange a safe way for them to get home.
Don’t ride in a vehicle with a driver who is intoxicated.
Always buckle up. It’s still your best defense against drunk drivers.
During the 2019 St. Patrick’s Day weekend 63% crash fatalities involved a drunk driver according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. From 2015 to 2019, a total of 280 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes during St. Patrick’s Day. Don’t let yourself or a loved one become a statistic. The luck of the Irish does not extend to drunk driving. Make a plan, have fun and stay safe.
If you are a parent, young adult, teacher or interested community member, you can learn more about Kentucky’s alcohol prevention efforts and find tons of resources at New Vista’s Regional Prevention Center https://newvista.org/substance-use/prevention.
