St. Patrick’s Day is nearly here, this weekend there will probably be a lot of celebrating already. Originally, the day was an annual feast day that celebrated St. Patrick – the patron saint of Ireland. The background of this holiday is very much religious, but for most folks it is now more a day of Irish pride. You can learn more on Wikipedia. So much so that you don’t even have to really be Irish to show your pride on March 17 each year! Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.
A big part of St. Patrick’s Day is drinking beer (or other alcohol) for many folks. Now I have no problem with anyone drinking beer, but I do have a problem with people driving while their buzzed. In 2008 there were 1,179 people in other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers.
This year plan ahead and don’t really on Irish luck to keep you safe on the roads. If you or your friends and family are going to be drinking – even just “a few” – make a plan. Decide on a designated driver, plan on taking public transportation, or have a taxi number with you. If you have young adults in your family please make sure you ask them to be smart and think ahead too. You can even take the pledge on the Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving website.
Remember: Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving. Plan ahead and ask your loved ones to do the same. For more information, visit Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving on Facebook and Twitter (@Buzzeddriving).
