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Published: March 11, 2022

Live to be Irish another day: Plan a sober ride home

St. Patrick’s Day — March 17, 2022 — is one of the biggest drinking nights of the year, and this, unfortunately, means more drunk drivers on the roads. If you plan to drink, plan a sober ride home.

The Wyandot County Safe Communities Coalition is teaming up with local law enforcement to spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving. Even one drink can be one too many. Remember: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.

“We understand people are looking for a reason to celebrate, and we want our community members to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day, but we also want to impress upon everyone the importance of safe driving,” Wyandot County Sheriff Todd Frey said. “Before you put your keys in the ignition, if you have been drinking, remind yourself, ‘Is this worth it, taking a chance of harming someone or myself? Do I really want to take a chance of getting stopped and arrested, going to jail and then to court? Is it worth the embarrassment of losing my job and license? Plan before you get to this point.”

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were 72 alcohol-related crashes statewide during the 2021 St. Patrick’s Day period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18). In total, 2021 saw 10,998 alcohol-related crashes statewide. Of these, nearly 12% resulted in a fatality or serious injury. Drunk driving is not only illegal, it’s matter of life and death.

In 2021, of the 10,998 alcohol-related crashes, 171 also involved pedestrians. Drivers should keep an eye out for pedestrians who have had too much to drink. Walking while intoxicated can be deadly. Lack of attention to their surroundings can put pedestrians at risk of getting hit by a vehicle. Find a sober friend to walk home with you or plan for a sober ride home instead.

“People need to know that they can go out for a night of fun and return home safely by ensuring they have a sober driver take them home,” Frey said. “Don’t be the reason someone — including yourself — doesn’t get home.”

If you’re the designated driver, make sure you don’t drink so you can keep that promise of safety to yourself and your passengers. People are relying on you, not to mention the other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the streets. Take the role seriously.

Before ever heading out, it’s vital to plan ahead. Be honest with yourself: You know whether you’ll be drinking or not. Follow these ideas to ensure you and your fellow partygoers live to be Irish another day.

  • Remember: it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober ride home.
  • If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
  • Do you have a friend who has been drinking and is about to drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
  • The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to see stop sign violations. In addition to staying sober for the drive home, designated drivers should remember to drive defensively and to follow all traffic laws. Be sure you and your passengers are buckled before the vehicle moves.
Wyandot County Public Health is nationally accredited through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Established in 2007, PHAB is the non-profit organization that administers the national accreditation program, which aims to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation.