[Goodhue County, MN] — St. Patrick’s Day is a fun time of celebration, but it’s important to keep it from becoming deadly. This means, if you plan to drink any alcoholic beverages, drive smart by planning a sober ride home and not getting behind the wheel. Extra DWI enforcement will be on Minnesota roads statewide.
Impairment by alcohol or drugs is one of the most dangerous driving behaviors seen on Minnesota roads.
• From 2019-2024 there were 97 alcohol-related crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday (according to preliminary data).
• From 2019-2024 there were 10 alcohol related fatal crashes on the St. Patrick’s Day holiday (according to preliminary data).
• During 2019 – 2024 there were at least 124 fatal alcohol-related deaths on Minnesota roads according to preliminary counts.
• Alcohol-related crashes not only take lives, but they also change them forever. There were at least 383 life-changing injuries were caused by alcohol-related crashes each year in that same period.
• Last year there were 438 driving while intoxicated (DWI) citations on the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
“We understand people are looking for a reason to celebrate, and we want our community members to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day, but we also want to impress upon everyone the importance of safe driving”, said Goodhue County Sheriff Marty Kelly. “If you’ve been drinking, make the right choice to find a sober driver to get you, and your friends home safely.”
Commit to a Sober Ride
• Plan for a safe ride — designate a sober driver, use public transportation, a cab or app-based ride service, or stay at the location of the party.
• Speak Up – Offer to be a designated driver or be available to pick up a loved one anytime, anywhere.
• Buckle up — the best defense against a drunk driver.
• Report drunk driving — call 911 when witnessing impaired driving behavior. Be prepared to provide location, license plate number and observed dangerous behavior.
