Designate Sober Driver Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Provided by TMA Bucks:

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17 and TMA Bucks is reminding Bucks County drivers not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 269 people were killed over a five-year period nationwide during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday in crashes involving drunk drivers.  Those fatalities were preventable.

“When you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, just be smart about it,” says TMA Bucks executive director Bill Brady. “If you know you’re going to drink—whether with friends at a bar, restaurant, pub or attending a local parade or party—designate a sober driver ahead of time. There’s never an excuse for driving after drinking.”

To prevent tragedies from occurring, TMA Bucks recommends the following steps to have a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day:

• Before the festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local police. You could save a life.
• And remember, if you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

TMA Bucks, which assumed management of the Bucks County Community Traffic Safety Program as of October 1, 2013, is a 501 (c) 4 non-profit transportation management association designed to promote and coordinate travel demand management strategies to reduce peak-hour traffic congestion and serve as a clearinghouse for transportation policies and programs throughout Bucks County. The TMA is membership supported and businesses can learn more about the benefits of membership at tmabucks.com.