Fewer Drunk Drivers on Saint Patrick’s Day: Lower Car Insurance
By: Liz Taylor, Car Insurance Analyst
CheaperCarInsurance.com
Each year, thousands of Americans celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in March. Partying usually means green beer and plenty of it. Unfortunately, green beer often means there are drivers on the road who are intoxicated, and that’s bad news for the drivers and everyone else who is out on the holiday. There is an increased number of car accidents on Saint Patrick’s Day, which means car insurance rates go up as a result.
But this year, law enforcement officials are already preparing for the holiday with preventive measures. In Wilmington, Delaware, police officers are planning to increase staff on both Saturday before the holiday and Saint Patrick’s Day. Many local bars are having celebrations over the weekend, and police plan to stop vehicles coming out of the bar areas and checking for inebriated drivers. In 2008, 50 people died as a result of drunk driving accidents on Saint Patrick’s Day.
In other cities, law enforcement officers are planning checkpoints to ensure the safety of all drivers both on the weekend and the holiday. Nationwide, in 2008, 1,179 people in cars other than the ones driven by drunk drivers were killed on Saint Patrick’s Day. More than that were injured.
How to Stay Safe on Saint Patrick’s Day
While the number one reason not to drink and drive on Saint Patrick’s Day or any other is that you don’t want to hurt yourself, your friends, your car or other drivers by causing a crash, there are other reasons. If you cause an accident while even a tiny bit over the allowed blood alcohol level you could:
- Be fined
- Lose your driver’s license
- Go to jail
- See a major increase in your car insurance rate
- Lose your car insurance altogether
Even if you don’t think you have had enough alcohol to impair your driving, you may still be over the level allowed by law. A police officer doesn’t care whether you are capable of driving well or not after a beer or two; if you’re over the limit, you’re not driving. Many states have harsh laws that will revoke your driver’s license after just one DUI.
Your car insurance, too, will be affected if you drive while intoxicated. Car insurance companies have zero tolerance on drunk drivers, so if you get ticketed or arrested for driving drunk, expect to see a significant increase in your car insurance rate. Some insurance companies won’t even insure someone who has multiple DUIs, so you may have to shop elsewhere for high risk car insurance.
Why Saint Patrick’s Day?
Saint Patrick’s Day is one of several holidays where law enforcement officers see an increase in the number of drunk drivers and drunk driving fatalities. The other holidays are:
- New Year’s Eve
- Fourth of July
- Memorial Day
- Labor Day
- Christmas Day
On holidays, people are more likely to drink, and when people drink, they often make the unwise decision to drive. Many think after just a glass of wine or cocktail they are fine to drive home (and many may be), but more often than not, these people are not thinking clearly, and that translates to how they drive.
If you are celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day or any other holiday, make plans to get home before you go out. Have a designated driver or call a taxi so you don’t end up just another drunk driving statistic. You’ll stay safe, keep others safe, and keep your car insurance rates low.
Many cities offer special shuttle services from bar areas to your home, so check to see if your area has this service. Ask your bartender while you are sober!
Posted: March 15, 2010
