With St. Patrick\u2019s Day approaching, police departments in Berks County are teaming with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to spread the message about the dangers of drunken driving.<\/p>\n
St. Patrick\u2019s Day is one of the deadliest times on the nation\u2019s roads. According to NHTSA, 38% of the traffic fatalities that occurred during the St. Patrick\u2019s Day holidays between 2019 and 2023 involved drunken drivers. In 2023, there were 63 fatalities in drunken driving crashes during the St. Patrick\u2019s Day holiday.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmbracing St. Patrick\u2019s Day and its traditions is one thing; engaging in the deadly behavior that is drinking and driving is another,\u201d said Exeter Township police Sgt. David Bentz, who also is the Berks County coordinator for the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program. \u201cFeeling buzzed and getting behind the wheel puts lives at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
If your St. Paddy\u2019s plans involve alcohol, make sure you plan for a sober driver, Bentz said The most important step is arranging for a sober ride in advance \u2014 whether that means designating a sober driver, using a taxi service or booking a rideshare.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n