NEWINGTON, CT – March 14, 2024 – As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are issuing a critical reminder to all residents: celebrate responsibly and never drive impaired.
This year, St. Patrick’s Day occurs on Sunday, March 17, which is one of the biggest drinking occasions of the year. Unfortunately, this also means an increased risk of impaired drivers on the roads, posing a significant danger to both drivers and passengers.
Statistics reveal the dangerous reality of St. Patrick’s Day as one of the deadliest days on our nation’s roads. Between 6 p.m. on March 16 and 5:59 a.m. on March 18, a period encompassing the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, 272 lives were tragically lost in drunk-driving crashes from 2017 to 2021. In the 2021 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, across the country, 47 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes.
In Connecticut in 2021, the last year of verifiable data, 112 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes, which accounted for nearly 40% of all fatalities in the state.
“St. Patrick's Day is a time for celebration and camaraderie, but it’s important to remember that our actions behind the wheel can have devastating consequences. By planning ahead and choosing not to drive impaired, we can all contribute to safer roads for ourselves and our communities,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “We ask everyone to celebrate responsibly this weekend. That responsibility begins even before you go out to celebrate by deciding who will be your sober designated driver or whether you’ll be using a ride-sharing service, taxi, or public transportation.”
CTDOT urges all individuals who plan to partake in St. Patrick’s Day festivities to prioritize safety by refraining from driving if they have been drinking. Instead, individuals are encouraged to make responsible transportation arrangements to ensure a safe journey home.
CTDOT offers the following reminders:
- Designate a sober driver. It is never okay to drink and drive.
- Plan ahead. Install ride-sharing apps on devices, enter local taxi phone numbers into your phone, and review local public transportation schedules before you head out.
- Visit CTtransit.com or a local bus transit operator website for schedules.
- Visit CTrail.com for information on train services in the state.
- Be a good friend. Take the keys away from anyone who is about to attempt to drive drunk and make plans for them to get home safely.
- See something, say something. If someone sees a potentially impaired driver on the road, call 911 when it is safe to do so.
For more information about the Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign and how alcohol affects the operation of a vehicle, please visit nhtsa.gov.