Contact: Sgt. Geoff Coon, 217-403-6934, [email protected]
Widely celebrated across the country, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest holidays due to the number of drunk drivers on the road. Drunk driving kills more than 10,000 people each year in our country, and every single one of those deaths is preventable. So today, the Champaign Police Department announced it will be conducting special patrols this St. Patrick’s Day to crack down on drunk drivers.
“Before celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year, decide whether you’ll drink or you’ll drive,” shared Sergeant Geoff Coon. “If you choose to drink, designate a sober, reliable driver to get you home safely from the party. If you’re planning on driving, don’t drink. The last thing you want is to turn your celebration into a ride to jail.”
In addition to looking for drunk drivers, the Champaign Police Department will be stepping up seat belt enforcement, particularly at night when seat belt usage rates are lowest.
If you are hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party:
- Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you serve is involved in a drunk driving crash
- Make sure all of your guests designate a sober driver in advance or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers
- Serve food and include non-alcoholic beverages at parties
- Keep the phone numbers for local cab companies handy and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving drunk
If you are attending a St. Patrick’s Day party:
- Designate a sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys
- If you do not have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home, call a cab, sober friend or family member to pick you up or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober
- Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while drunk
- Always buckle up – it is your best defense against a drunk driver
Pedestrians are at risk, too. If you are walking, keep an eye out for cars. Even a sober driver is a risk if you are drinking and walking. Designated drivers: Be alert for impaired walkers who may not obey street signs.
The St. Patrick’s Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is funded by federal traffic safety funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation.