St. Patrick’s Day: Celebrate safely; don’t drink & drive

Ahh … it’s St. Patrick’s Day: An opportunity to revel and enjoy gatherings with friends and the raising of a glass or two, especially welcome in a week that marks two years since COVID disrupted lives.

But as with most observances that center on socializing, St. Patrick’s Day comes with a stern warning: Don’t drink and drive.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania State Police earlier this week chose Delaware County as the site for a press conference warning about the devastating effects of driving after St. Patrick’s Day drinking.

According to preliminary PennDOT data, during the 2021 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period beginning from Friday, March 12, through Thursday, March 18, there were 213 crashes involving an impaired driver, resulting in nine fatalities in Pennsylvania.

National statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Monitoring department showed that in 2019, which was prepandemic and likely indicative of the socializing expected in the 2022 endemic era, 57 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day period March 16 to March 18.

The safety group categorizes St. Patrick’s Day as one of the deadliest times on the nation’s roads. During the 2015-2019 St. Patrick’s Day period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18), 280 lives were lost in drunkdriving crashes. In 2019, drunk driving killed more than 10,000 people in the U.S.

Between the hours of midnight and 5:59 a.m. over the St. Patrick’s Day period in 2019, more than half (63%) of crash fatalities involved a drunk driver.

Those walking home after a night out drinking alcohol are also at risk. In 2019, 32 percent of the pedestrians killed in traffic crashes had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) at or above .08.

At the Delaware County event, PennDOT and state police were joined by the district attorney, Upland Borough Police Department, AAA, and the Pennsylvania DUI Association to outline regional impaired driving safety efforts during St. Patrick’s Day.

“We understand people are looking for a reason to celebrate, and we want our community members to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day, but we also want to impress upon everyone the importance of safe driving,” said Shawn Noonan, Regional DUI Program Administrator of the Pennsylvania DUI Association. “Please don’t allow the deadly consequences of alcohol-impaired and drug-impaired driving to ruin the St. Patrick’s Day festivities; make a plan to get home .”

“We’re not saying don’t drink alcohol,” said Jack Stollsteimer, Delaware County District Attorney, “but if you do drink, give the keys to someone else. In today’s world of ride sharing apps, there is simply no excuse to mar this holiday by driving while impaired and putting people’s lives at risk.”

“If you’re the designated driver, make sure you don’t drink so you can keep that promise of safety to yourself and your passengers. … People are relying on you,” said Krys Johnson, PennDOT Safety Press Officer.

Advocates against drunk driving emphasize the importance of planning ahead. Decisions about how to get home which are made during or after drinking are marred by impaired judgment.

Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Designated drivers should refrain from drinking any alcohol as impairment begins with the first drink. 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, contact law enforcement.

Do you have a friend who has been drinking and is about to drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

Pedestrians are reminded to practice safe behaviors, including designating a “sober walker” to ensure all parties safely make it to their destination.

Two years after lockdowns and masking mandates curbed celebrations, St. Patrick’s Day with restaurants and pubs open for business is a welcome sight. But the dangers of drinking and driving remain an ominous threat to safety.

Be Irish for a day; celebrate, and raise that glass, if so inclined. But heed the advice of safety experts and don’t drive after drinking. Instead, live as the Irish say with “the wind at your back and the sun shining warmly on your face,” today on St. Patrick’s Day and always.