Saint Patrick’s Day falls on Monday, March 17th this year, meaning that celebrations will take place throughout the capital city throughout the weekend. The Dover Police Department will be proactively enforcing DUI violations during the weekend and encourage party-goers to designate a sober driver to help keep our roadways safe. In the last 4 years, between 8pm-3am, there have been 66 crashes, 36 injuries and 11 fatalities during Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in the State of Delaware (DE Office of Highway Safety).
AAA Mid-Atlantic has these tips for a safe St. Patrick’s Day celebration:
If you’re venturing out to a party, plan ahead.
- Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
- Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
- If you’ve been drinking, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely.
- If you see a driver on the road that you suspect is impaired, contact local police.
- If you see people who are about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
If you’re hosting the party where alcohol is being served, be responsible.
- Have food and non-alcoholic beverages available.
- Remember that it takes 40 minutes or longer for alcohol from a drink to be absorbed.
- Take note of who’s coming, who drinks, and who drives.
- Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.
- Stop serving alcohol at least an hour before your guests start to leave for home.
- Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.
