Friends don’t let friends drive drunk on St. Patrick’s Day

March 12, 2012

Designate before you celebrate the March 17th holiday

Approximately 10 percent of Wisconsinites claim at least a bit of Irish ancestry. But for many Wisconsin residents—even those without a drop of Irish blood—St. Patrick’s Day often becomes a celebration with families, friends and anyone wearing green.

With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, more people likely will be celebrating the holiday at bars and parties. Consequently, more motorists may be tempted to drive while impaired by alcohol. To prevent impaired drivers from injuring or killing themselves and others on roadways this weekend, law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin will be increasing their patrols.

"Drunken driving is a serious offense, and law enforcement officers don’t give warnings or second chances to drivers who are impaired," says State Patrol Major Sandra Huxtable, director of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Safety. "There are about 40,000 drunken driving convictions in Wisconsin each year, and for approximately three out of four of these drunken drivers it was their first conviction."

The expense, hassle and embarrassment of a drunken driving arrest are not the worst things that can happen if you drive while impaired. On average, someone is killed or injured in an alcohol-related crash about every 2-1/2 hours in Wisconsin.

"Lives are destroyed and families suffer because of drunken drivers," says Huxtable. "Last year in Wisconsin, two people died in traffic crashes on St. Patrick’s Day, which was celebrated on a Thursday. We want to reduce that to zero traffic deaths on St. Patrick's Day and everyday of the year."

Instead of risking an arrest for impaired driving on St. Patrick’s Day or even worse—killing or injuring yourself or someone else—WisDOT and the Wisconsin State Patrol offer the following suggestions:

• Before you start partying, choose a sober designated driver.
• If you’re feeling buzzed, you probably are over the 0.08 (alcohol concentration) limit and should not drive.
• Take mass transit, a taxicab or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Some taverns and restaurants have programs to provide patrons with a safe ride home. (Visit www.tlw.org for more information).
• In the Milwaukee area, MillerCoors and the Milwaukee County Transit System are again teaming up to provide free bus service on St. Patrick's Day. Route and schedule information is available by calling 1-800-FREE-RIDES (1-800-373-3743) or visiting www.MillerLiteFreeRides.com.

For more information, contact:
State Patrol Major Sandra Huxtable, Bureau of Transportation Safety
(608) 266-3048, sandra.huxtable@dot.wi.gov