This St. Patrick’s Day, don’t rely on luck: ‘Buzzed driving is drunk driving’

The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is urging drivers not to drink and drive over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. The agency, partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is running the “Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving” campaign from March 13-17, 2026.

According to NHTSA, nearly 38% of all traffic fatalities during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday between 2019 and 2023 involved a drunk driver, totaling 284 preventable deaths. During the 2023 holiday alone, 63 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes — 44 of them in crashes where the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher, nearly double the legal limit. Law enforcement will be on high alert this year to catch impaired drivers before a tragedy occurs.

“While many traditions surround St. Patrick’s Day, getting behind the wheel after just a few should not be one of them. Law enforcement officers see the heartbreaking aftermath of impaired driving daily, from ruined lives to grieving families,” said Jack McNeely, director of the GHSP.

“Feeling a buzz is a sign of impairment. Alcohol clouds judgment, making it impossible to accurately assess your own ability to drive. The GHSP emphasizes that drinking and driving is never an option, but choosing a sober ride is,” McNeely said.

To celebrate safely, the GHSP recommends:

1. Plan before you party: Do not wait until you’ve started drinking to find a ride. Secure a designated sober driver or pre-book a taxi or rideshare service.
2. Hand over the keys: If you’ve been drinking, give your keys to a sober friend or family member.
3. Be a good friend: If you see someone who has been drinking attempting to drive, take their keys and help them arrange a safe way home.
4. Report impaired drivers: If you spot a vehicle operating erratically, contact local law enforcement immediately. Your call could save a life.

For more information on impaired driving, visit nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving. For more information about the GHSP, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.