Today, Monday, March 17, marks St. Patrick’s Day and celebrations will take place here in Alabama, as well as across the entire nation. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) urges drivers to remember that drinking and driving can be deadly and should never be an option. ALEA is joining the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in sharing this message: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said, “Individuals planning to celebrate and enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day festivities must have a plan for getting home that doesn’t involve getting behind the wheel after consuming an alcoholic beverage. Alcohol impairment clouds judgment, inhibits decision making and dramatically reduces a person’s ability to react, especially when driving. Drivers should always secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.”
Every year, alcohol-impaired driving casts a shadow over the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day by taking the lives of community and family members across America. According to NHTSA, 38% (290) of the traffic fatalities that occurred during the St. Patrick’s Day holidays (6 p.m. March 16–5:59 a.m. March 18) between 2018-2022 involved drunk drivers. In 2022 alone, there were 74 drunk-driving fatalities during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, of which 49 involved drivers with a blood alcohol level of almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). In 2022 drivers ages 21-34 (34%) were the age group most involved in alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities during this holiday, followed by drivers under 21 (30%). The rates of passenger car drivers and motorcyclists involved in these fatal drunk-driving crashes were 34% and 41%, respectively.
According to the Center for Advanced Public Safety (CAPS) in Alabama, impaired driving is a primary contributing factor in nearly 11% of all fatal crashes across the state. This increases to 15.8% on St. Patrick’s Day.
“Embracing St. Patrick’s Day and its traditions is one thing; engaging in the deadly behavior that is drinking and driving is another. Feeling buzzed and getting behind the wheel puts lives at risk,” reminds Colonel Jonathan Archer, Director of ALEA’s Department of Public Safety (DPS). “As law enforcement officers, we witness firsthand the devastation and loss caused by alcohol-impaired driving, along with the lasting pain it inflicts on families, friends, and entire communities. We’re partnering with NHTSA to share the reminder that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. Drinking and driving is not an option, but making sure someone sober will be behind the wheel is,” he said.
If drivers find themselves in a situation where they are unable to safely operate a motor vehicle, they should turn over their keys to a sober driver ensuring they make it home. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take necessary steps to get their keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement.
