Make a safe ride home part of all your celebration plans
All drivers should prioritize safety behind the wheel, when celebrating seasonal traditions this month. With March Madness and St. Patrick’s Day approaching, it’s a time for festivities for many in Wisconsin, but those who plan to drink, must also plan for a safe ride home.
Impaired driving prevention is Wisconsin State Patrol’s March Law of the Month.
“St. Patrick’s Day and other celebrations, have the potential to be the deadliest times on the roads, if people aren’t making smart decisions,” said State Patrol superintendent Tim Carnahan.
Someone is injured or killed in an impaired driving crash about every two hours, in Wisconsin. Preliminary data shows alcohol was involved in more than one-quarter of all traffic fatalities last year. Drugged driving contributed to more than 1,800 crashes in 2022.
Operating a vehicle while impaired is not only dangerous, it’s illegal. There were almost 23,000 OWI convictions in Wisconsin, in 2022. One out of three people with OWIs on their driver records are repeat offenders.
Law enforcement agencies across the state, work every day, to prevent these risks. Officers receive special training, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), to help them recognize the signs of impairment in a driver.
If planning to drink, don’t drive and make a plan to get home safely, by doing the following:
• Identify a sober designated driver; if feeling impaired.
• Rather than risk an arrest, take mass transit, call a taxi or use a rideshare service.
• Take advantage of the SafeRide program at local bars and restaurants.
• If a friend attempts to drive drunk, step in and take away the keys.
Drivers should also keep an eye out for pedestrians, who have had too much to drink. Lack of attention to surroundings could put pedestrians at risk of being hit by a vehicle.
If a driver is suspected of being impaired, safely gather as much info as possible about the vehicle, driver, and location and direction of travel. Then, call 911.
