St. Patrick’s Day Safety Tips for Drivers

St. Patrick’s Day brings with it the combination of alcohol and celebratory festivities. However, this combination also leads to serious injuries. State police in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey are on the lookout for serious accidents that are likely to happen due to the holiday. They are conducting patrols and checkpoints to prevent injuries before they occur.

There are two dangers to watch out for on this festive day: the behavior of others and your own behavior. You may be behaving in a safe way, but harm can still find you. Be on the lookout, for bad driving and rowdy behavior. The problem you have more control over is yourself. It is very easy, when drinking with friends, to join in on their behavior and lose self-control. Pennsylvania and New Jersey prohibit the operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with a blood alcohol content level of .08 percent or above. Violating that can lead to charges ranging from traffic offenses to felonies, depending on the circumstances.

Avoiding Injuries

Worse than getting charged for driving under the influence (DUI), however, is getting or causing a serious injury. You can avoid this by following these simple rules:

• Have a plan. Before you go out, anticipate the danger you are exposing to yourself.
• Leave your keys at home. Call a cab or an Uber in your city. If you designate a sober driver, make sure they stay sober. If your sober driver decides to drink anyway, take their keys away and determine the next best transportation option.
• Buckle up. Always wear your seat belt when riding in a vehicle.

St. Patrick’s Day Statistics

In 2010, alcohol-related crashes occurred every 51 minutes on St. Patrick’s Day, resulting in 32 percent of all fatalities that day. From 2012 to 2016, 269 fatalities resulted from alcohol-related accidents. After-parties appear to be the most dangerous on this holiday, with 69 percent of drunk driving fatalities occurring after midnight. St. Patrick’s Day is not the most dangerous day of the year for drinking. It is the fourth, after New Year’s Eve, Christmas, and the Fourth of July.

Camden Car Accident Lawyers at DiTomaso Law Advocate for Those Injured by Drunk Drivers

If you or a family member was involved in a serious car accident, contact the Camden car accident lawyers at DiTomaso Law. We can help you obtain the compensation that you deserve. Call us today at 856-414-0010 or contact us online for a free consultation. Located in Center City Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we serve clients across the surrounding areas, including South Jersey, Mt. Holly, Camden County, and southeastern Pennsylvania.