You don’t need to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but you do need a sober driver if you plan on going out to the bars. An alcohol-related car crash causes a death every 75 minutes. From 2010 to 2014, there were 266 drunk driving fatalities on St. Patrick’s Day and, of those fatal car crashes, the driver had consumed more than twice the legal limit 75% of the time.
These numbers illustrate the importance of staying safe as you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, for your sake and that of others. eTags is dedicated to providing safety tips to help motorists make better decisions when they get behind the wheel of any type of automobile. eTags reviews the latest statistics and tips to help its customers and others reading its blog stay safe. And the most important thing you can do to stay safe is to not get into a vehicle with an impaired driver or be one yourself.
Get an Uber, Lyft, or a Good Old-Fashioned Cab: Chances are that there will be an increase in prices on St. Patrick’s Day as it’s a peak period, but you can always split your cab or Uber with a few friends. The point is to get home in one piece and spare other commuters the danger of driving next or close to an impaired driver.
Recruit a Sober Driver: You might actually know a friend who abstains from drinking and, if so, then problem solved. If not, you can always see who gets the shortest straw among your friends or have an established rotating schedule for the Sober Driver or DD (designated driver). Remember, you might good friends and all, but don’t taunt the DD about not being able to drink to avoid him or her falling into temptation.
Use Public Transportation: If you are going out to a city establishment, use public transportation. It’s cheap, efficient, and services usually run longer for holidays like St. Patrick’s Day.
Get a Ride from the Police: No seriously. This is a good ride that doesn’t end up in booking. Many municipalities offer free rides from police on holidays like St. Patrick’s Day where drinking is more common. The police only want you to be safe and have fun on St. Patrick’s Day as well. Another option you may consider is a service like TripleA who also provide free rides (and tows) for those unable to drive home.