Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk This St. Patrick’s Day - March 13

Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk This St. Patrick’s Day

Appomattox- For many Virginians, St. Patrick’s Day has become a popular night out to celebrate with friends and family. Unfortunately, due to the large volume of impaired drivers, the night out has become very dangerous. Whether meeting a few friends at the local pub after work or attending the big St. Patrick’s party, if you plan on using alcohol don’t drive and never let your friends drive if they are drinking.

Last year on St. Patrick’s Day, nearly half (44%) of the 105 drivers and motorcyclists involved in the fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or above.

That’s why Captain Paul D. Kvasnicka Jr. of the Virginia State Police is joining forces with other federal, state and local highway safety and law enforcement officials across the nation to remind all of those who plan on using alcohol during St. Patrick’s Day festivities this year to drink responsibly and always have a designated sober driver before the party begins.

* Designate your sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys, and remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk;
* If you’re drinking, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;
* Report impaired drivers to law enforcement
* Always buckle up—it’s still your best defense against an impaired driver.

Impaired driving is one of America’s deadliest problems. In 2006, we had 42,642 people who were killed in motor vehicle crashes. Out of that number 13,470 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

Impaired driving is no accident, nor is it a victimless crime. Designate your sober driver don’t depend on dumb luck this St. Patrick’s Day.

Sergeant David O. Cooper

Public Information Officer

Virginia State Police Appomattox Division Three