As St. Patrick's Day approaches and festivities loom, Schuylkill County authorities are urging motorists to plan a safe ride home and never get behind the wheel of a vehicle drunk.
Dave Everly, Regional DUI Enforcement Coordinator, said that during this holiday, law enforcement officers, both municipal and Pennsylvania State Police, will be on high alert, cracking down on drunk drivers as part of the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" public safety campaign.
Drunk driving is dangerous, deadly and against the law and it will not be tolerated in Schuylkill County this St. Patrick's Day, Everly said.
"Today, we are giving a fair warning to everyone traveling through Schuylkill County that our law enforcement officers will be out on patrol and if you are caught driving drunk, you will be arrested," he stressed.
Statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that more than 700 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving drunk drivers during St. Patrick's Day holidays from 2006 through 2010.
Everly said that on average, every 51 minutes, a person is killed in a drunk-driving crash in the United States.
The majority of these crashes, he said, involve drivers who have a blood alcohol level of 0.15 percent or almost two times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
"Whether you are gathering with friends at the local pub or attending a party, if alcohol is part of the festivities, make sure you designate a sober driver to get you home safely," Everly said.
Everly recommended the following easy steps to make sure the 2013 St. Patrick's Day festivities are happy and safe:
- Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
- 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, call 911 immediately.
"And remember, if you know someone who is about to drive a car or ride a motorcycle while impaired, take the keys and help that person make other arrangements to get to where he or she is going safely," Everly said.
He said more information on the dangers of drinking and driving and highway safety in general can be obtained by visiting www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.
