SACRAMENTO,
Calif. – As St. Patrick’s Day approaches on March 17, the “wearin’ o’ the green” is not nearly as important as having a plan
in place if intoxicants will be involved in your celebrations. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is
encouraging the public to put safety first and designate a sober driver, a rideshare
service, or a taxi to make your ride home a safe one.
“St.
Patrick’s Day celebrations can often result in a highway tragedy,” CHP
Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “Plan
ahead and do not let the use of alcohol or drugs mixed with driving result in a
collision, jail time, injuries, or death.”
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration describes March 17 as one of the
deadliest holidays for drunk driving and alcohol-involved crashes. Last year on that day in California, seven
people were killed and 116 others were injured in collisions caused by driving
under the influence (DUI). It was a busy
day for CHP officers who made 219 arrests for DUI.
This year,
do not push your luck. Buckle up, avoid shenanigans
behind the wheel, and designate a sober driver if your St. Patrick’s Day
celebration will include alcohol or other impairing substances. The financial impact of a DUI can be
sobering. Attorneys’ fees, fines, court
costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, and car repairs can reach $15,000
or more in California.
“Temptations
to drive impaired can increase during the holiday,” added Commissioner
Stanley. “If you are planning to drink,
do not get behind the wheel.”
To help
keep the roads safe, the CHP encourages the public to report impaired drivers
by calling
9-1-1. Be prepared to provide the public safety
dispatcher with a description of the vehicle, location, and direction of
travel.
The
mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and
Security.
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