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Drive safe for eyes will be on you |
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March 8, 2017 |
St. Patrick’s Day has become one of the nation’s
most popular times to celebrate and party. But
unfortunately, too many people are taking to the
roads after drinking alcohol, making the holiday
one of our most dangerous.
In fact, 30 people were killed in drunk-driving
crashes across the nation during the St.
Patrick’s Day holiday period in 2015.
The Idaho Transportation Department is teaming
with the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) and law enforcement
groups statewide March 10-20 on extra patrols to
curb these needless tragedies. These groups also
want to share the message that Buzzed Driving Is
Drunk Driving.
These law enforcement groups include the Bonners
Ferry Police, the Kootenai Tribal Police, the
Boundary County Sheriff's Office, the Idaho
State Police and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
According to NHTSA, 252 people lost their lives
in drunk-driving-related crashes during the St.
Patrick’s Day holiday period from 2011 to 2015.
More than a fourth of them were killed in
drunk-driving crashes that occurred in the early
morning, post-party hours after midnight.
If you plan to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day,
please follow these tips to stay safe:
- Before celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, decide whether you’ll drink or
you’ll drive. You can’t do both.
- If you’re planning on driving, commit to staying sober. If you’ve been
out drinking and then get behind the wheel, you
run the risk of causing a crash or getting
arrested for a DUI.
- If you have been drinking, call a taxi or sober friend or family member,
or use public transportation.
- Also, try NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, which helps users call a taxi or
a friend for a ride home and identify their
location so they can be picked up.
- Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly, as lack of attention could
put you at risk of getting hit by a vehicle.
- Help those around you be responsible, too. If someone you know is
drinking, do not let them get behind the wheel
and help them find a sober ride home.
- If you see someone who appears to be driving drunk, call the police.
Your actions could help save a life.
Impaired driving causes tragedies all year
round. According to NHTSA, 35,092 people were
killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2015,
and 10,265 (29 percent) of those fatalities
occurred in drunk-driving-related crashes.
Remember this St. Patrick’s Day: Plan Before You
Party! Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving! |
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