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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — AAA is warning drivers to be careful on St. Patrick's Day this Sunday.
The agency says impaired driving crashes and fatalities tend to spike over the holiday. Citing federal data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 272 people were killed in crashes during the holiday period between 2017 and 2021.
AAA also analyzed state crash data over the two-day St. Patrick's Day holiday period. From 2019 to 2023, there were more than 2,500 crashes on March 17 and 18 in Massachusetts, with 694 resulting in an injury and 11 being fatal, according to the agency.
Read More: BPD Issues Safety Tips Ahead Of St. Patrick's Day Weekend
AAA also cited NHTSA's impaired driving data, saying more than 30 percent of all fatal crashes are due to impaired driving, while 13,384 people were killed in impaired-driving crashes in 2021.
"No holiday is a green light to drive impaired," said Mark Schieldrop, AAA Northeast senior spokesperson. "Before the celebrations begin this weekend, plan ahead to ensure every ride is a safe one."
AAA gave the following tips to ensure a safe St. Patrick's Day:
- Always drive 100% sober and plan for someone to be a designated driver before any alcohol is consumed.
- Even if you think you’re OK to drive, don’t take any chances if you’ve consumed alcohol, cannabis or other substances. Call a taxi, use Uber or Lyft, or take public transportation to get home.
- If you’re hosting a celebration, encourage guests to stay overnight or avoid driving altogether.
- If you’re the designated driver, take the job seriously and don’t drink at all.
- Impaired drivers pose a risk to all road users. Be extra vigilant if you’re on the road on St. Patrick’s Day, especially overnight. Most fatal drunk driving crashes during the holiday period occur between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m.
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