Parades, festivities and green beer — what’s not to like about St. Patrick’s Day? It’s time to don your favorite green apparel, grab your friends and have fun, but don’t forget about personal safety! Before going to the local pub, make transportation arrangements if you plan on drinking alcohol.

Alongside Mardi Gras and New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the heaviest drinking holidays of the year in the United States. Unfortunately, this alcohol consumption also makes St. Patrick’s Day one of the deadliest holidays on the road

Last year, 327 people were involved in alcohol-related driving automobile crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday according to the United States Department of Transportation. In 2018, 73 people were killed in drunk driving crashes on St. Patrick’s Day. Each one of these deaths could have been prevented, and it’s your responsibility to find a way home if you’ve been drinking alcohol.

Here’s how you can ensure that your St. Patrick’s Day festivities stay fun and safe:

• Before March 17, decide on whether you will rely on a designated driver, public transportation, a cab or rideshare service. If you plan on using a rideshare, download the app to your phone and save your information before you leave the house.

• If you’re the designated driver, be cautious of other drivers on the road, especially if you’re out between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. According to the NHTSA, 62 percent of crash fatalities that occur during this time involve a drunk driver.

• Buckle up! A seatbelt is the best way to guard against possible injuries in an accident caused by a drunk driver.

• Make sure your friends have access to safe transportation. Be the responsible one and arrange an Uber or Lyft ride or call a cab for your friend if you feel that they’re too intoxicated to drive. Sometimes people have a difficult time recognizing when they shouldn’t drive home.

Ridesharing or hiring a cab may seem expensive in the moment, but they’re nothing compared to the price tag of a DUI. On average, a DUI costs $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, increased car insurance rates, car towing, impoundment and more. Don’t end a night of fun with a DUI or worse, a fatal car accident just because you didn’t want to pay for a ride.

Consume your green beer responsibly on this St. Patrick’s Day and always make a plan to get home safely. Remember, buzzed driving is drunk driving!

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Intoxalock has been installing ignition interlock devices on vehicles for more than 25 years and has more than 3,000 installation centers across the United States. If you have been convicted of a DUI and have questions, or are looking to have an ignition interlock device fitted to your car, contact one of our representatives at (833) 623-0200.