It’s said that “everybody’s Irish” on St. Patrick’s Day. Given the way that Americans embrace the festivities – especially all that green beer – it’s easy to believe that’s true.
St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a true celebration of life every spring, which makes the fact that it’s also one of the deadliest holidays of the year even sadder.
St. Patrick’s Day is the 3rd-most popular drinking holiday in the U.S.
Only New Year’s Eve and Mardi Gras are known for more alcoholic indulgences than St. Patrick’s Day.
If you’re not particularly into Guinness or any other kind of alcohol, you may think you’re pretty safe from trouble, but you may still have to contend with all the folks who are willing to risk drinking and driving — and there are a lot of them. Statistically speaking, 62% of fatal wrecks on St. Patrick’s Day involve a drunk driver. You can be victimized by one even if you’re totally sober.
So, what can you do to stay safer? Here are some suggestions:
- Plan ahead: Patrick’s Day is always on a Thursday, so you probably can’t avoid being on the road entirely (if you commute), but you can make sure that you’re home as early as possible. Skip any non-essential errands so you can tuck in early for the night.
- Avoid the bar area: If your usual route home takes you past the bar district, consider switching your route for a day. That puts you further from the obvious danger spots.
- Be on high alert: If you spot a driver weaving, stopping and starting for no reason or otherwise behaving erratically, pull over and get out of their way. Once you’re stopped, call 911 and report as much as you can to the authorities. You could be saving a life.
Despite your best efforts, you may still end up a victim to a St. Patrick’s day reveler who didn’t have the sense to call for a ride. If you suffer injuries from a drunk driving accident, find out more about your right to compensation for your losses.