IDAHO NATIONAL
Idaho
Transportation |
Don’t test your luck this St. Patrick’s Day – St. Patrick’s Day has become a big night out on the town for many Americans, particularly young adults. As part of a nationwide effort, the Idaho Transportation Department joins other safety partners in reminding motorists to designate a sober driver before attending St. Patrick’s Day festivities that involve alcohol. “Whether you’re just meeting friends at the corner pub or attending the local parade or party, if you plan to use alcohol, plan ahead. Never drive drunk – and never let your friends drive if you think they are impaired,” says Kevin Bechen of ITD’s Office of Traffic and Highway Safety. St. Patrick’s Day can be a dangerous time to be on the road because of the increased numbers of impaired drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 32 percent of all traffic fatalities on the nation’s highways around St. Patrick’s Day in 2003 were the result of impaired drivers with blood alcohol content (BAC) levels of .08 percent and higher. “Don’t test your luck this St. Patrick’s Day. Designate your sober driver before the festivities begin,” Bechen says. If you are attending a St. Patrick’s Day celebration and plan to use alcohol:
If you are hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party:
Impaired driving is one of America’s deadliest problems. Nationally, more than 17,000 people died in alcohol-related highway crashes during 2003. Every 30 minutes – nearly 50 times a day – someone in America dies in an alcohol-related crash. Hundreds of thousands more are injured each year. According to NHTSA, about three in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives. |