50% of  Total Traffic Fatalities in Michigan were Alcohol-related on St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

DEARBORN, MI —  AAA Michigan is sending out a statewide SHAMROCK SAFETY ALERT urging motorists to take extra care to help make their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations safe. This year, St. Patrick’s Day lands on Friday and the start of the weekend.  The risks for impaired driving are higher as many establishments will be promoting the holiday throughout the entire weekend with many promotions kicking off in the early morning hours and continuing until the 2am closing time.  According to the most recent available Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center statistical reports from 2016:

• Nearly 4.5% of total car crashes in Michigan were alcohol-related on St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

• 50% of the total traffic fatalities in Michigan on Mar 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) and Mar 18 were alcohol-related.

AAA Michigan offers these Seven Lucky Steps to a Safer St. Patrick’s Day:

1. Always drive safe and sober. Take the pledge to drive drug and alcohol-free on

St. Patricks’ Day and throughout the year. 

2. Designate an alcohol and other drug-free driver before the party starts.

3. Call a cab, Uber, Lyft or plan to stay the night if you have had too much to drink. 

• Use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) SaferRide app to help keep drunk drivers off the roads. It allows users to call a taxi or a friend and identify  their location so they can be picked up.

4. Never ride in a car with someone who is intoxicated.
5. Report impaired drivers to local law enforcement immediately.
6. None for the road. One drink can be one too many. Learn more about the effects of alcohol on driving and AAA’s efforts to reduce alcohol and other drug-related injuries and deaths.
7. Be a responsible host.

• Provide a variety of alcohol-free beverages. Click here for delicious alcohol-free “Great Pretenders” recipes.
• Serve protein-rich, starchy foods.
• Slow down the drinking rate by providing activities, party games, lively talk and good food.
• Refrain from making alcohol the main focus of your party.
• Make sure your guests don’t feel pressured to drink alcohol.
• Never serve alcohol to underage guests.
• Refrain from having guests mix their own drinks.
• Choose a reliable “bartender” to help keep track of size and number of drinks guests consume.
• Remove alcoholic drinks toward the end of the party and surprise your guests with a coffee, tea and dessert buffet.
• Watch for over-indulgers and make sure they have a safe ride home or stay the night.

“It takes more than the luck of the Irish to help reduce and eliminate alcohol-related crashes and fatalities in Michigan, said Susan Hiltz, AAA Michigan’s public affairs director. AAA urges Michigan motorists to plan ahead and do their part as an individual, friend or host to insure a safe ride home for everyone.”