Berks County law enforcement officials are reminding residents to make safe transportation plans before celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
With festivities expected to take place across the country on and around Tuesday, March 17, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and police in Berks County are urging drivers to remember that drinking and driving is dangerous and preventable. Officials are encouraging the public to share the message: “Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.”
According to NHTSA, alcohol-impaired driving remains a significant concern during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period. Data from 2019 through 2023 shows that 38% of the 284 traffic fatalities during the holiday involved drunk drivers. In 2023 alone, 63 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, including 44 drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher.
“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,” said Sergeant David Bentz of the Exeter Township Police Department, who also serves as the Berks County coordinator for the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program.
“Our community has seen 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,” Bentz added.
Local authorities are encouraging residents planning to celebrate the holiday to arrange for a sober ride before the festivities begin. Options include designating a sober driver, using a taxi service, or booking a rideshare.
Officials also say designated drivers should be prepared to help friends find a safe ride home if they did not plan ahead. Community members are additionally encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers to local law enforcement.
More information about impaired driving prevention is available at nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
