What are you doing on March 17th? If your plans include a few pints of Guinness, it is important that you drink responsibly. Saint Patrick’s Day is often a holiday that is celebrated from sun up to sun down with a lot of alcohol. While it isn’t a crime to drink a green beer or two, it is a crime to get behind the wheel of your car and drive drunk.
Alcohol impairs reaction times, judgment, and alertness, and many Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations have ended in fatal car accidents because impaired drivers have gotten behind the wheel. Sadly, 276 people lost their lives on Saint Patrick’s Day between 2009 and 2013, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
So that your Saint Patrick’s Day doesn’t end in tragedy, it is important that you celebrate responsibly, which includes the following:
- Designate a sober driver ahead of time
- Don’t get in a car with a driver who has been drinking
- Phone a sober friend or relative to pick you up
- Call a taxi cab if all else fails
- Remember buzzed driving is drunk driving
Even if you partied safely and designated a sober driver to take you home, other drivers on the road are likely to be drunk. If you were injured in a car crash due to a drunk driver, or if your loved one died as a result of a drunk driving crash, you should speak with an attorney to learn about your legal rights.
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