St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and while it’s certainly a day
to party, you should certainly remember to stay safe while out on the roads. It
has never been easier to make sure that you are not driving drunk. (Remember,
tipsy driving is drunk driving.) Just because you are technically under the legal
limit, it doesn’t mean that you are actually ok to drive, since having just one
drink can impair a driver’s judgement.
Now we know that with St. Patrick Day being on a Friday this
year, the desire to go out and commemorate the occasion is even greater! But we
have some great tips to consider that will help you stay safe while celebrating
the luck of the Irish.
First, make sure you choose a designated driver. If you do
this ahead of time, you won’t run into issues when you get to the bar where you
play the game of “You be the designated driver.” “No, you be the designated
driver.” It’s not a game you want to play.
But what if no one wants to be the designated driver? Well
thanks to taxis, Uber and Lyft, it’s never been easier to make sure that you
stay safe on the roads. There will be plenty of these types of drivers who perform
this shuttle-type available to take you where you need to go.
Don’t want to take an Uber, Lyft, or taxi? That still doesn’t
give you the right to get behind the wheel. Contact a friend or relative who you
know hasn’t been drinking to pick you up. Or, you can always rely on public transportation.
If you are the sober one in your group, do not let someone
who is drunk say “I’ve got this.” Let me drive. They don’t have this. Take the
keys from them. They may be mad in the moment, but they will come around later.
What about if you see someone else on the road who appears
to be intoxicated and is driving erratically? Pull over to a safe location and
call the police to report the issue. You may save a life…either the impaired
driver or someone else on the road.
Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day this year. Wear green. Go party. But
make sure to do it responsibly. "May your heart be light and happy, may
your smile be big and wide, and may your pockets always have a coin or two
inside!"
