THP Urges Motorists To Act Responsibly This St. Patrick’s Day

Nashville, TN (2011-03-16) More than 50 sobriety and driver license checkpoints are planned across the state, as the Tennessee Highway Patrol steps up enforcement efforts for the 2011 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period beginning at midnight, Wednesday, March 16th through 11:59 p.m., Thursday March 17th.

“St. Patrick’s Day has become a popular holiday for many Americans to celebrate with friends and family,” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons. “Unfortunately, it has also become a very dangerous night on our roadways due to drunk drivers. We want to remind all Tennesseans to act responsibly, drive safely and never get behind the wheel impaired.”

Nationwide, there were 103 crash fatalities on St. Patrick’s Day in 2009, according to statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Out of that number, 47 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. In Tennessee, six people were killed in six fatal crashes during the 2010 St. Patrick’s Holiday, and two of those crashes involved alcohol.

“Our goal is simple – to find and remove impaired drivers from the roadways,” said THP Colonel Tracy Trott. “If you drink and drive, you are in jeopardy of placing your life or someone else’s at risk, not to mention how the trauma, financial burden and arrest will impact your life forever. Don’t gamble with your future; designate a sober driver before the party begins.”

In 2010, preliminary statistics indicate that 1,033 people died on Tennessee roadways, a decline of one percent, compared to 1,043 fatalities in 2009. A driver convicted of DUI can face up to 48 hours in jail and the loss of driving privileges for up to a year for a first offense. The associated costs of driving impaired also include attorney fees, court costs, reinstatement fees and higher insurance premiums.

In conjunction with the St. Patrick’s Day enforcement, the THP Knoxville District will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on U.S. 27 in the Bear Creek area of Scott County on Friday, March 18, 2011.

“The focus of this collaborative effort is to save lives,” said Colonel Trott. “I am proud that our State Troopers have spearheaded this initiative and earned the support of our local law enforcement agencies and highway safety advocates. Together, we can make a positive impact on roads and byways in Tennessee.”

The THP also offers these safe driving tips for St. Patrick’s Day:

• Plan Ahead. If you plan to drink, arrange a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.
• If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use public transportation, or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, promptly contact your local law enforcement agency (Dial *THP)
• Remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you or someone who is about to ride with someone who is impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.
• Drunk driving violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses, ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs and lost wages due to time off from work.
• And remember, the tragedies and costs of driving drunk are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for drunk driving are significant.

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.