HARRISBURG, PA (March 17, 2015) – Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico reminds drivers to stay sober on St. Patrick’s Day and “arrive alive.”
“March 17 has become a deadly day in the United States, with a dramatic spike in drunk-driving fatalities,” said Marsico. “If you do consume alcohol, have a plan in place to make sure you will not be behind the wheel of a vehicle.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend in 2013 (6 p.m., March 16 to 5:59 a.m., March 18), more than a third (40%) of all crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. The night of March 17—St. Patrick’s Day—was especially bad. In the post-celebration hours between midnight and 5:59 a.m. March 18, half of all crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. Thirty-one people were killed in drunk-driving crashes on St. Patrick’s Day in 2013.
The following safe driving tips are recommended:
- Plan to drive sober or designate a sober driver. Save the number of a taxi company in your phone so you always have a backup plan.
- If you are impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely.
- If you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
“Drunk driving has fatal consequences,” Marsico added. “Law enforcement will be on the lookout for speeding, reckless driving and other violations. If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local police immediately. You could save a life.”
For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.
