Holidays Such as St. Patrick’s Day No Excuse to Drink and Drive

Wearing green and eating corned beef are signature ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But for many people, so is drinking alcohol. While there is nothing wrong with revelry, it is important to do so responsibly. It’s time to review some of the ways that you stay safe when you celebrate with the Irish this week.

Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve are still the most deadly times of the year for motorists, but St. Patrick’s Day is often promoted as a drinking holiday. Not only that, many people come out in the vibrant spring weather to attend parades and participate in holiday running and bike races. That means that motor vehicle crashes may be more likely to occur, but there could also be an increase in pedestrian accidents. In fact, federal data often shows that a large percentage of pedestrian accidents involve alcohol, both among drivers and pedestrians alike.

Tips for Staying Safe

1. Like other holidays, you can be sure that law enforcement will be increasingly alert on St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re going out, be sure to select a designated driver now.
2. Practice defensive driving. Even if you are sober, there’s no guarantee that surrounding drivers will be as responsible as you. Look for erratic driving patterns, such as swerving, driving too fast or slowly, tailgating or inappropriate responses to stop signs and traffic lights.
3. Watch out for drunken pedestrians who may stumble into the road while you’re driving. Be especially careful when making turns and near crosswalks, where pedestrians may disobey the rules of the road.
4. Expect road closures on parade or race routes. Many times, these events happen in busy downtown areas that are often marked by one-way streets and disabled traffic lights. Pay close attention to road signs so that you don’t inadvertently turn the wrong way. Even a drink or two could impair your attention and response time, so there’s no room for error.
5. Watch out for decorations that could impair your visibility on roads, such as parade floats, banners and food trucks.
6. Call a taxi if you think you’re too impaired to drive.
7. Don’t hesitate to take the keys if you think a friend is too drunk to drive. Call law enforcement if you are unable to prevent them from driving.

In some ways, you could look at St. Patrick’s Day as the inaugural event to many of the year’s other big holidays, such as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. Don’t rely on the luck of the Irish to keep you safe. You will be held accountable for your own actions.

However, if you or someone you love is injured by someone else’s irresponsible decisions on St. Patrick’s Day, consider contacting a personal injury attorney. You may have a legal claim against the reckless party, which could result in compensation to help with your medical bills, lost wages and other damages caused by the accident.