Stay Lucky by Driving Sober – Don’t Drink and Drive

May the luck of the Irish be with you!

St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and we at Kaine Law want luck to be on your side. Just like the Irish, the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day tends to involve three things: 1) an abundance of green; 2) a parade; and 3) alcoholic beverages. While we want you to enjoy your holiday, we also want safety to be a part of your plans.

According to Traffic Safety Marketing, from 2009-2013, there were a total of 276 fatalities due to drunk driving car accidents surrounding St. Patrick’s Day.  These statistics alone make St. Patrick’s Day one of the deadliest holidays in Atlanta, across Georgia and throughout the United States. The statistics for 2014 were even more alarming. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign released some important talking points:

• 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. The St. Patrick’s Day holiday period is from 6:00 p.m. on March 16, 2016 and runs through 5:59 a.m. on March 18, 2016.
• In 2014, alone, 29 people (28% of all crash fatalities) were killed in drunk-driving accidents over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period.
• During post-party hours, between midnight (12:00 a.m.) through 5:59 a.m. nearly half (49%) of all fatal crashes involved a drunk driver.
• Drunk driving kills more than 10,000 people each year in our country, and every single one of those deaths is preventable.

Drivers are not the only ones at risk for a car accident. Pedestrians are at risk for getting hit by drunk drivers who are under the influence. Festivities begin early in most cities, so people of all ages are at risk of getting hit at the conclusion of parades. Whether the driver or walker is impaired, it is crucial to keep an attentive eye.

St. Patrick’s Day is a cause for celebration, but not one that should take your life or the life of another innocent person. Don’t test your luck this holiday – drive sober!

For more information on this article, contact Kaine Law.