It is more important than ever to teach your child never to ride with an impaired driver. The Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility reported in April 2017, that for the first time, drugged driving now surpasses drunken driving among drivers killed in crashes. And every day, over 27 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. Learn more.
As one of the country’s most popular holidays, St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate the roots of 34.2 million Americans with Irish ancestry. Tragically, March 17 has become one of the nation’s deadliest holidays.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), during the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18), more than a quarter (28%) of all motor vehicle crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. The early hours of March 18 were especially deadly: between midnight and 5:59 a.m., nearly half of all crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. In fact, from 2010 to 2014, almost three-fourths of the drunk-driving fatalities during this holiday period involved drivers who had blood alcohol contents (BACs) well above the .08 limit, with 266 drunk-driving fatalities total.
Pedestrians walking while intoxicated are also at risk as lack of attention increases the risk of getting hit by a vehicle. In 2014, 35 percent of the pedestrians killed in crashes had a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.
There is some good news, however. The number of fatalities over this holiday period decreased nationally from 32 in 2013 to 29 in 2014. Likewise, the number of fatalities involving drunk drivers declined from more than one-third to one-fourth.
“We are greatly encouraged by the downward trend in fatalities,” said Irvington Chief of Police Mike Cerone. “However, we still want to encourage everyone to make a plan before heading out to the festivities. Understand the dangers of drinking and driving. Buzzed or drunk, you should not drive. Designate a sober driver before you and your friends go out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Do not wait until you’ve already been drinking to find a sober driver. Remember: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. Even one drink is dangerous if you are behind the wheel of a car.”
Let’s make 2017 safer. Use this party-planning checklist to stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day.
Fact: In 2014, on average, one person was killed every 53 minutes in a drunk-driving crash in the United States. That totaled 9,967 drunk-driving fatalities that year. Too many people are not getting the message. Drunk driving is deadly and illegal. In fact, even if you have a BAC under .08, you could still be arrested and convicted of drunk driving.
To drink and drive is a crime —you put yourself and others at risk. The consequences are often fatal. If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local police when it is safe to do so. You could save a life.
For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov or www.iask-cab.org.
Did you know…1 in 3 teens surveyed say they have been a passenger with an drinking or drug impaired driver at least once in the past year?
Tips to Keep Your Child Safe:
1) Teach your children refusal skills
2) Establish an emergency exit code with your child
3) Communicate clearly to your child that you are willing to pick them up if he/she doesn’t have a safe ride home
Speak to your son or daughter today about the dangers of being a passenger in the car with someone who is impaired by alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs.