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With St. Patrick’s Day falling on Tuesday, March 17, state and federal highway safety officials are urging drivers to plan ahead and avoid getting behind the wheel after drinking.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Arkansas Highway Safety Office are partnering with law enforcement statewide on the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.
According to NHTSA, 38 percent of traffic fatalities during St. Patrick’s Day holidays between 2019 and 2023 involved drunk drivers, accounting for 284 deaths over that span. In 2023 alone, 63 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the holiday period, 44 of whom involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher.
Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Col. Mike Hagar said the holiday’s traditions are no excuse for dangerous behavior behind the wheel.
“Embracing St. Patrick’s Day and its traditions is one thing; engaging in the deadly behavior that is drinking and driving is another,” Hagar said. “Drinking and driving is not an option, but making sure someone sober will be behind the wheel is.”
Officials are urging anyone celebrating the holiday to arrange a sober ride before festivities begin, whether through a designated driver, taxi or rideshare service. Drivers are also encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers to local law enforcement.
For more information on impaired driving, visit nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136.
