This St. Patrick’s Day, local law enforcement agencies are working to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. The Mountain Home and Cotter Police Departments are partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to remind drivers that drinking and driving is deadly and never an option.
According to the NHTSA, there were 74 drunk-driving related fatalities in 2022 during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, of which 49 involved drivers with a blood alcohol level of almost twice the legal limit. The age group most involved in these fatalities were 21-34, accounting for 34% of drunk-driving related deaths.
Cotter Police Chief Travis Hopson says “Embracing St. Patrick’s Day and its traditions is one thing; engaging in the deadly behavior that is drinking and driving is another. Feeling buzzed and getting behind the wheel puts lives at risk. We witness firsthand the devastation and loss caused by alcohol-impaired driving, along with the lasting pain it inflicts on families, friends and entire communities. We’re partnering with NHTSA to share the reminder that buzzed driving is drunk driving. Drinking and driving is not an option, but making sure someone sober will be behind the wheel is.”
NHTSA recommends drivers plan ahead if they are planning to drink on the holiday and shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive by taking away the keys and helping them get a sober ride home.
Anyone spotting a drunk driver should contact the appropriate local law enforcement agency.
For more information, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
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