As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is urging drivers to designate a sober driver before the party begins. The Patrol will be working with local law enforcement to remove impaired drivers as part of the National Highway Safety Administration’s Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign.
St. Patrick’s Day and the weekend before are popular times to celebrate with friends and family. However, due to impaired drivers, those nights can become dangerous. Last year, four people were killed in three crashes in Ohio on St. Patrick’s Day. During this 24-hour period, the Patrol made 84 OVI arrests.
“The tragedies that follow impaired driving are senseless and avoidable,” said Colonel Paul A. Pride, Patrol superintendent. “It’s easy to be responsible while also enjoying the celebration. Designate a sober driver or call a cab.”
To prevent deaths and injuries, the Patrol is partnering with local law enforcement and safety advocates around the state to increase enforcement on Ohio’s roads and remind people to plan ahead to designate a sober driver. More than 99 local law enforcement agencies around the state will be conducting enforcement activity, saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints, funded by federal grants provided through the Patrol’s Ohio Traffic Safety Office.
Bars and liquor permit holders should also remember that over-serving or serving underage customers could mean costly fines, suspension or revocation of their liquor permit. The Ohio Investigative Unit and other safety partners have been working to educate motorists and permit holders of these consequences in advance reminding people of the dangers of driving impaired, and that over-serving is against the law.
As always, motorists are encouraged to call #677 to report drug activity or impaired drivers.
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