St. Paddy’s Day Accident Statistics and Safety Tips
On March 17, millions of people across the globe will honor the patron saint of Ireland by celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Steeped in tradition, the day is generally filled with festivities, including parades and parties. It is also one of the most popular drinking nights of the year, making it one of the deadliest times to be on the road.
At Coletrane & Messersmith, we represent individuals who have been injured or killed due to another person’s negligence or wrongdoing. We are committed to helping injured parties and their families throughout Virginia. If you are injured in a St. Patrick’s Day accident, contact our office at (757) 530-5273 to book your free, no-obligation consultation today.
St. Patrick’s Day Statistics
According to WalletHub, over half (54%) of Americans plan on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year. It is the 3rd most popular drinking day of the year and the 1st most popular holiday for beer drinking. On average, a person consumes 4.2 drinks during St. Paddy’s Day festivities, with over 30% of men admitting to binge drinking during the March 17th holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day traditionally sees a sizable increase in the amount of beer and spirits sold. The financial website estimates that 174% more beer is sold, and spirit sales see a 153% increase during the holiday.
St. Paddy’s Day Drunk Driving Facts
Unfortunately, the staggering increase in drinking also leads to more accidents. During the 2019 St. Patrick’s Day period (March 16 at 6:00 pm to March 18 at 5:59 am), there were 57 people killed in drunk driving crashes.
As noted by WalletHub and confirmed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 63% of fatal car accidents during that same period involved a drunk driver.
NHTSA drunk driving statistics for March 17th:
- St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest times to be on the road.
- During the 2015-2019 St. Patrick’s Day period, there were 280 people killed in drunk driving crashes across the United States.
- In 2019, over 3 out of 5 fatal car accidents involved a drunk driver.
- Every 52 minutes, someone was killed by a drunk driver in 2019.
It is not only drivers and passengers that are at risk for serious injury or death during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. Over 30% of pedestrians killed during the 2019 St. Patrick’s Day holiday had a BAC of .08% or higher.
How to Stay Safe on March 17
This St. Patrick’s Day, get home safe. The devastating reality is that March 17th proves deadly for far too many people.
Celebrate safely by following these tips:
- Never drink and drive. Designate a sober driver, use public transportation, or hire a ride-hail service to keep yourself and others safe.
- Walk sober. Nearly 1/3 of pedestrians killed during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period in 2019 had a BAC of .08% or higher.
- Call 9-1-1. If you see a drunk driver on the road, report it to law enforcement.
If you are involved in a St. Patrick’s Day accident, it is important to protect your rights. Contact the experienced legal team at Coletrane & Messersmith immediately to discuss your options.
Injured in a St. Patrick’s Day Accident? Contact Our Office
Were you injured in a St. Patrick’s Day accident in Virginia? Contact our office at (757) 530-5273 to book a free consultation. There are no fees unless we win. Call now to get started.
