St. Patrick’s Day 2026 celebrations will take place across the country on and around Tuesday, March 17. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges drivers to remember that drinking and driving is deadly and never an option. Join NHTSA and the Brookland Police Department in sharing this message:Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
Every year, dozens of people are killed when they choose to drive drunk during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. According to NHTSA, 38% (284) of the traffic fatalities that occurred during the St. Patrick’s Day holidays between 2019-2023 involved drunk drivers. In 2023 alone, there were 63 fatalities in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, of which 44 involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher.
Local authorities are urging everyone to celebrate the holiday safely by making a plan before the festivities begin. The most important step is arranging for a sober ride in advance — whether that means designating a sober driver, using a taxi service, or booking a rideshare. Because alcohol clouds a person’s judgement, designated drivers should be prepared to help others who failed to plan ahead find a safe and sober way home. Community members are also encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers to local law enforcement. For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.