Residents encouraged to plan ahead for St. Patrick’s Day
News | Published on March 11, 2025 at 3:45pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0Annual celebration is set for Monday, March 17
St. Patrick’s Day 2025 celebrations will take place across the country on and around Monday, March 17. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Otter Tail County Safe Communities Coalition, and the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office urge drivers to remember that drinking and driving is deadly and never an option. Join us in sharing this message: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
Every year, alcohol-impaired driving casts a shadow over the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day by taking the lives of community and family members across America. In 2022, 74 people died in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s holiday, with 49 involving drivers with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) nearly twice the legal limit. The highest percentage of those involved occurred among drivers aged 21-34 (34 percent), followed by those under 21 (30 percent).
“Embracing St. Patrick’s Day and its traditions is one thing; engaging in the deadly behavior that is drinking and driving is another. Feeling buzzed and getting behind the wheel puts lives at risk,” said Sergeant Allen Mekash of the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office. “As law enforcement officers, we witness firsthand the devastation and loss caused by alcohol-impaired driving, along with the lasting pain it inflicts on families, friends, and entire communities.”
The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with NHTSA to share the reminder that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. “Drinking and driving is not an option, but making sure someone sober will be behind the wheel is,” Mekash said.
Drivers should be safe during St. Patrick’s Day by planning ahead if they intend to drink. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Alcohol impairment clouds a person’s judgment.
If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. Contact the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office at 218-998-8555 if anyone spots a drunk driver.
Law enforcement reminds residents to drive 100 percent sober because Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information on impaired driving, visit www.ottertailcounty.gov/SCC.