A Safe St. Patrick’s Day
Sonora, CA — Don´t rely on the luck of the Irish this weekend; if you´re going to drink, play it safe by designating a driver or a sober ride home.
The latest CHP traffic fatality figures show that 269 people have been killed nationwide in alcohol related crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday from 2007 to 2011. Last year on the holiday, the CHP made more than 430 arrests statewide for DUI, which is a 28 percent increase from 2012.
“Enjoy your time celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year, just be smart about what you do when the celebration is over,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Whether you are with your friends at a local pub or enjoying a celebratory event, designate a sober driver ahead of time, or call a taxi to make sure you get home safely.”
Here are the CHP’s safety tips for St. Patrick’s Day:
• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
• If you are impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• Use your community’s sober driver programs, if available.
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, do not hesitate to call 911.
• And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
