St. Patrick’s Day is a day of celebration for many – and that celebration often involves alcohol. If you plan on drinking this St. Patrick’s Day, be sure to arrange for a safe ride to and from all of your destinations. If you do not have a designated driver, consider a rideshare option such as Uber or Lyft. If you are the designated driver, download the DDVIP app from the California Office of Traffic Safety for discounts and perks at participating bars and restaurants.
The Daily Breeze reports that last St. Patrick’s Day, the CHP made 148 arrests for drunk driving. Thankfully, those drivers were stopped before they could injure or kill someone else. Tragically, 66 people were injured while driving last year on St. Patrick’s Day. Three people had their lives cut short following a collision with a drunk driver that same day.
This year, in an effort to reduce the number of drunk driving-related injuries, many local and state police departments are amping up their patrols for St. Patrick’s Day. While this is a step in the right direction, increased patrols are only one part of the solution. The other part? Your behavior, and the behavior of everyone else who may be on the road.
How to Stay Safe on St. Patrick’s Day
The easiest way to stay safe on St. Patrick’s Day is to avoid drinking and driving. If you are the designated driver or if you will be driving on St. Patrick’s Day for unrelated reasons, you can help reduce your risks of being involved in a car accident by:
- Allowing a gap of three to four car-lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you
- Carefully following the flow of traffic while being mindful of the speed limit
- Using your turn signals
- Staying in your lane
- Avoiding distraction
If you see a driver on the road who is showing signs of intoxication, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) advises you call 911 to report the driver. Signs that indicate intoxication include:
- Weaving and swerving
- Speeding
- Erratic or sudden braking or stopping
- Driving with high beams on
- Driving with a turn signal on
Of course, not everyone who forgets to turn a signal off is intoxicated, but if that sign is combined with some of the others, it may be safest to call 911 and report the vehicle. This simple step could save someone’s life. Perhaps even your own.
What to Do If You Are Injured on St. Patrick’s Day
If you are injured by an intoxicated driver on St. Patrick’s Day, the Redondo Beach personal injury lawyers at Kirtland & Packard are here to help. Our team of car accident attorneys have decades of experience helping victims of serious injury get justice. We are prepared to get to work on your case right away to help protect you against predatory insurance companies while seeking maximum compensation for all of your damages.
If you live in the South Bay area and have been injured by a drunk driver, call Kirtland & Packard at 310-536-1000 to schedule a free consultation today.