Montgomery, AL – Today, March 17, marks St. Patrick’s Day, with celebrations happening across Alabama and the nation. As revelers gather for festivities, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is reminding drivers of the dangers of impaired driving, urging them to plan ahead and never get behind the wheel after drinking.
ALEA is joining the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in promoting the message: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor emphasized the importance of planning ahead for a sober ride home.
“Individuals planning to celebrate and enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day festivities must have a plan for getting home that doesn’t involve getting behind the wheel after consuming an alcoholic beverage,” Taylor said. “Alcohol impairment clouds judgment, inhibits decision-making, and dramatically reduces a person’s ability to react, especially when driving. Drivers should always secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.”
According to NHTSA, alcohol-impaired driving remains a significant danger during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Between 2018 and 2022, 38% of traffic fatalities occurring from 6 p.m. on March 16 to 5:59 a.m. on March 18 involved drunk drivers. In 2022 alone, 74 people lost their lives in alcohol-related crashes during the holiday period, with nearly two-thirds of those drivers having blood alcohol levels of almost twice the legal limit.
In Alabama, impaired driving contributes to nearly 11% of all fatal crashes, with that number rising to 15.8% on St. Patrick’s Day, according to the Center for Advanced Public Safety (CAPS).
Colonel Jonathan Archer, Director of ALEA’s Department of Public Safety, reinforced the agency’s commitment to preventing impaired driving tragedies.
“Embracing St. Patrick’s Day and its traditions is one thing; engaging in the deadly behavior that is drinking and driving is another,” Archer said. “Feeling buzzed and getting behind the wheel puts lives at risk. As law enforcement officers, we witness firsthand the devastation and loss caused by alcohol-impaired driving, along with the lasting pain it inflicts on families, friends, and entire communities. We’re partnering with NHTSA to share the reminder that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.”
ALEA advises partygoers to turn over their keys to a sober driver if they are unable to drive safely and encourages friends to intervene if someone who has been drinking intends to drive. If anyone spots a suspected drunk driver, they should contact local law enforcement.
