UC police urge safe holiday celebrations

UC police urge safe holiday celebrations
Posted: Saturday, March 12, 2011 12:28 am

For many Americans, St. Patrick’s Day has become a popular night out to celebrate with friends and family.

Unfortunately, due to the large volume of impaired drivers, the night out has also become very dangerous.

The Union City Police Department will kick off a “Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving” campaign Sunday and it will continue through March 19 — encompassing St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday.

Union City police will conduct sobriety check points from 10 p.m. Thursday until 4 a.m. March 18 in the vicinity of the National Guard armory on East Reelfoot Avenue and County Marketplace on West Reelfoot Avenue.

“Whether you are meeting a few friends at the local pub after work or attending a local party, if you plan on using alcohol, never drive while impaired — and never let your friends drive if you think they are impaired,” Union City Police Chief Joe Garner said. “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”

Following these steps, a driver can enjoy a safe St. Patrick’s Day without jeopardizing their life or the lives of others who may be on the road. Tips include:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.
• If you’re impaired, call a sober friend or family member or use public transportation to ensure getting home safely.
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement.
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

On St. Patrick’s Day 2009, 37 percent of the drivers and motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or above, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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