Staying Safe During One of the Biggest Drinking Nights of the Year
On Thursday, March 22, 2022 millions of Americans will be donning green and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Tragically, St. Paddy’s Day makes one of the deadliest times on American roadways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the St. Patrick’s Day period beginning March 16 at 6:00 pm until March 18 at 5:59 am is an extremely dangerous time to be on the road.
St. Patrick’s Day Roadway Deaths
During the St. Patrick’s Day period from 2015 to 2019, there were 280 people killed in drunk driving crashes. Just in 2019, there were 57 people who died in drunk driving crashes. Each of these deaths was preventable, along with the nearly 10,000 that are lost to impaired drivers every year. Drinking and driving claims a life every 52 minutes on American roadways.
Deadliest Time on the Road
As noted in NHTSA’s “2022 St. Patrick’s Day Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving, Live To Be Irish Another Day” fact sheet between 12:00 am and 5:59 am over the 2019 St. Patrick’s Day period, 63% of fatal accidents involved a drunk driver.
Pedestrian Accidents
It is not only vehicle occupants that are in danger on the roads on and around St. Patrick’s Day. In 2019, 32% of pedestrians killed in traffic-related accidents had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.
Tips for Staying Safe
If you do plan to go out this St. Patrick’s Day, it is important to remember to designate a sober driver. Many law enforcement agencies operate license and sobriety checkpoints during this popular drinking holiday. In addition, driving sober can help save your lives and others.