Safety

This St. Patrick's Day, There's No Luck Involved in Safe, Sober Driving

March 16, 2012

St. Patrick's Day is this weekend, and you know what that means: green clothing, green decorations and even green beer. But if you're going to have a glass of that festive brew, be sure to hand over your keys first – because driving buzzed will bring you no luck on St. Patrick's Day.

Laura Walter

As part of their "Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving" campaign, the Ad Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are urging everyone to be safe this St. Patty's Day. They stress that driving buzzed on this holiday could cost you a pot of leprechaun's gold –up to $10,000 in legal fees, court costs and increased insurance rates. And those headaches don't include the safety risks you create if you choose to drive buzzed.

NHTSA and the Ad Council offer six tips to help prevent buzzed driving in your community this St. Patrick's Day:

· Before drinking, plan ahead and designate a sober driver
· If you're impaired, call a taxi, sober friend/family member or use public transportation.
· Use your community's sober ride program, if available.
· If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don't hesitate, contact local law enforcement
· Remember, buzzed driving is drunk driving. If you know people who are about to drive or ride with someone who is impaired, take the driver's keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.
· Spread the word to your friends and loved ones by posting one of the campaign's new St. Patrick's infographics on your blog or Facebook page. Find them here. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150645328422870.408386.90143942869&type=3

You won't find safe driving at the end of the rainbow. Make your own luck by being a responsible driver this St. Patrick's Day.

For more information, visit Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.