FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DEFIANCE, OH – St. Patrick’s Day 2026 will be celebrated across the country on and around Tuesday, March 17. As festivities get underway, the Defiance County Safe Communities Coalition is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in reminding drivers that alcohol and driving never mix. The message the Defiance County Safe Communities Coalition is spreading is a simple, life-saving message: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
Every year, lives are lost because someone chooses to get behind the wheel after drinking. According to NHTSA, 38% (284) of all traffic fatalities during St. Patrick’s Day holidays between 2019 and 2023 involved drunk drivers. In 2023 alone, 63 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period—44 of those involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher.
“St. Patrick’s Day is meant to be a fun celebration for all and it can quickly turn tragic when alcohol and driving are mixed,” said Lt. Drew Waltmire of the Defiance Police Department. “Even if you feel ‘okay’ to drive, alcohol affects your judgment, coordination, and reaction time. If you’re buzzed, you’re impaired and the decision to drive impaired can cost lives. We just want everyone to make it home safely.”
Defiance County Safe Communities Coalition is urging community members to plan ahead before celebrating. That means arranging a sober ride in advance—whether it’s a designated driver, a taxi, or a rideshare service. Because alcohol can impair decision-making, sober drivers are encouraged to help friends or loved ones to find a safe way home.
Community members are also encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers to local law enforcement. Community members looking out for one another can prevent serious injuries—or worse.
For more information on the dangers of impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving or defiancecohealth.org/traffic-safety/
Contact
Jessica West
Health Promotion Specialist
Public Information Officer
jessica.west@defiancecohealth.org
