St. Patrick’s Day has become a holiday celebrated worldwide. It has also become a day synonymous with drinking—green beer, Jameson or pints of Guinness. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were a total of 276 lives lost on St. Patrick’s Day between 2009 and 2013. If you live in Pasco County, Fla., make sure your celebrations of the Irish patron saint don’t include drinking and driving. Here’s how to avoid a DUI or DWI on St. Patrick’s Day 2016.
Plan Ahead and Don’t Drive While Impaired
To state the obvious, the simplest and most surefire way to avoid a DUI or DWI is to absolutely not drive after you’ve been drinking. If you plan on joining in on the celebrations with a few drinks, catch a ride home with a friend who is sober or call a taxi or Uber. Or, consider an alcohol-free beverage to celebrate with instead. Most drunk motorists end up driving while impaired due to a lack of planning ahead.
Pace Yourself and Remember That Buzzed Is Drunk in the Eyes of the Law
Keep your blood alcohol concentration level to a minimum by limiting the number of drinks you have over a period of time. If you plan to drink this St. Patrick’s Day, limit yourself to one drink per hour, and only alongside plenty of water and full stomach. It’s important to remember, however, that everyone processes alcohol differently depending on their weight, gender, rate of consumption and a number of other things.
This year, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has announced a multiple agencies will team up to crack down on impaired drivers. This “Wolf Pack” is aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of driving a motor vehicle while impaired, and is part of their ongoing commitment to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and property damages due to drunk driving.
Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day at Home
It goes without saying that another surefire way to avoid a DUI, DWI or drunk drivers on the road is to avoid going out at all. Host the festivities at your place this year, or stay in with the family for some home-cooked Irish food and a movie or the Tampa Bay Lightning duke it out on the ice. If possible, it’s best to avoid the roads at all costs over this heavy drinking holiday.
Call Laporte, Mulligan & Werner-Watkins for Legal Help With Injury or Defense
If you or someone you know has been injured by a drunk driver on St. Patrick’s Day–or any day of the year–the legal experts at Laporte, Mulligan & Werner-Watkins, P.A. are here to help. We have years of experience ensuring our clients get the outcome they deserve, and drunk motorists pay for their negligence and impaired choices, and we will work diligently until your justice is served. Call us today at (727) 478-4125 or fill out our easy online form to your case started today.