For those going out on St. Patrick’s Day, the effort to keep everyone on the roads safe will include specialized patrols by County Police that will be searching for and arresting impaired drivers. Impaired driving crashes are a leading cause of fatal crashes on St. Patrick’s Day. Across the U.S. in 2019 on St. Patrick’s Day, 63 percent of crash fatalities involved a drunk driver.
“Drunk drivers are a continuing problem on our nation’s roads, especially around days like St. Patrick’s Day,” said Captain David McBain of the Police Department’s Traffic Division. “If people are out drinking, they need to know that they can return home safely having a sober driver take them home. If you do not have a sober driver with you, take advantage of the SoberRide program or other taxi services. Do not let St. Patrick’s Day become an anniversary of a tragic night.”
To provide additional sober rides, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is providing a “safety net” with subsidized rides through Lyft. The promotional code will be posted by WRAP at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, at www.SoberRide.com. The program provides up to $15 off for rides home on St. Patrick’s Day.
If someone believes they are observing a driver impaired by alcohol or drugs, they should immediately call 9-1-1. If possible, and without putting themselves in danger, they should safely obtain the license plate of the vehicle, the direction of travel of the vehicle and a description of the vehicle (make, model and color).
Education and enforcement campaign mobilizations to curb dangerous driving behaviors are part of Montgomery County’s Vision Zero Initiative to eliminate serious and fatal injuries from roadways by 2030. For more information on the County’s Vision Zero Initiative, go to montgomerycountymd.gov/visionzero.
