When one thinks of Saint Patrick’s Day, one often thinks about wearing green, parades and get-togethers at bars, pubs and private parties. This is a recipe for Saint Patrick’s Day fun for many. However, this fun can quickly turn to tragedy if the get-togethers include alcohol.

Saint Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest holidays on our nation’s roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that during the 2012-2016 Saint Patrick’s Day holiday period (6:00 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18), 269 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes. In 2017, drunk driving killed 59 people (37 percent of all crash fatalities) over the Saint Patrick’s Day holiday period. Walking home after a night out partying can also be dangerous. Thirty-two percent of the pedestrians killed in crashes in 2017 had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. NHTSA says drug-impaired driving is increasingly becoming a problem on our roadways. Driving while drug-impaired is illegal. NHTSA says, “If you feel different, you drive different.”

TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov wants everyone to “Celebrate With a Plan.”

• Always remember to plan ahead. You know whether you will attend a party. If you plan to drink, plan for a sober driver to take you home. Is it your turn to be the designated driver? Take that role seriously—your friends could be relying on you.
• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve only had one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get home safely.
• Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app. The app is available for Android devices on Google Play and Apple devices on the iTunes store. SaferRide allows users to call a taxi or a predetermined friend and identifies the user’s location so he or she can be picked up.
• Use a sober ride program. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has partnered with Budweiser in its annual “Tow and Go” program, which offers a free, confidential ride to AAA members and non-members. The AAA tow truck transports the vehicle and driver home, or somewhere safe, within 10 miles. To reach the AAA/Budweiser Tow and Go service call (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact 9-1-1.
• Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get him or her home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone—they’ll thank you later.

If you are hosting a Saint Patrick’s Day party, NHTSA reminds hosts to do the following:

• Make sure all your guests designate their sober drivers in advance.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
• Stop serving alcohol a few hours before the end of the party and keep serving non-alcoholic drinks and food.
• Take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving after drinking, and get them a ride home.

“We at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. wish everyone a safe and happy Saint Patrick’s Day,” said Randall Spivey, Fort Myers DUI Accident Attorney. “Please remember, if you need our assistance, we are available for you 24/7.”

Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.