Who Will Be Your Designated Driver On St. Patrick's Day?

Every year, lots of people, of Irish descent and otherwise, decide that the best way to pay homage to St. Patrick is to get mind-numbingly drunk. 

If that describes you or your friends, this article is for you.

Please remember that hundreds of people have died on St. Patrick's Day due to drunk driving over the past few years. So if you and your friends are of legal drinking age and plan to drink, plan to have a designated driver who will not be drinking and who will be able to see you and your other friends safely home. If you're not of legal drinking age, there are a whole host of reasons you should not drink, including that it can affect brain development, sports performance, and that it's illegal. Still, some kids do anyway and if they're driving, they are endangering not only themselves, but their friends as well.

Catherine Barden, the coalition coordinator for the Madison Alcohol and Drug Education coalition (MADE in Madison), said people going out in groups need to feel comfortable saying "no" if the circumstances call for that. 

"It’s okay to say 'no' to getting in the car with a drunk or buzzed driver," Barden said.

She said that in 2011 an overwhelming percentage (80%) of Daniel Hand High School seniors reported that they have made the decision to refrain from driving after drinking. Also, 76% of students in grades 7-12 reported that they have not been in a car with a drunk driver within the last year.

"That’s a great start, but we need to work together to bring those numbers up to 100%. We want to avoid a tragedy, and ensure the safety of all of our youth. Remember to have a plan, and to call Safe Rides if you need a ride home," Barden said.

Safe Rides can be reached at 203-245-8347, and the program runs Friday and Saturday from 10:00 p.m to 1:30 a.m. For times and days when Safe Rides is not available, you can try Shoreline Taxi at (203) 506 - TAXI (8294). 

This information is from the National Highway Transportation Safety Association: 

Every year, thousands of lives are lost due to impaired driving on holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, over 700 people died from 2006-2010 on St. Patrick’s Day alone because of drunk driving. In 2013, St. Patrick's Day is on Sunday, March 17th...

Remember:

• A person is killed every 51 minutes from drunk driving.
• 129 people in 2010 died on St. Patrick’s Day because of drunk driving.
• Plan a safe way home BEFORE the party starts.
• If you see someone driving buzzed on the road, call your local law enforcement.

We want people to know the very real risks of driving buzzed. It can result in jail time, loss of driver’s license, or, worst of all, loss of life. You have the power to help...

We want everyone to know how dangerous buzzed driving can be, and how easily preventable it is. Driving buzzed is a choice, one that can be the difference between life and death. Help us spread the word about buzzed driving.