Safe, Sober St. Patrick's Day Celebrations Urged In Bucks Co.

BUCKS COUNTY, PA —With a big weekend coming up, TMA Bucks is urging Bucks County residents to have safe and sober St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

The holiday is officially on Monday, but the festivities are planned for the weekend with parades, festivals, and lots of drink specials at county bars.

"The festivities that mark this cultural celebration are eagerly anticipated. However, amidst the sea of green and spirited cheer, the TMA Bucks Community Traffic Safety Program reminds everyone that it is crucial to remember a sobering truth: drinking and driving can turn a day of celebration into one marred by tragedy," Bensalem-based TMA Bucks said.

To spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving and to help keep your community’s streets safe, the TMA Bucks Community Traffic Safety Program is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and PennDOT to remind everyone that buzzed driving is drunk driving!

“St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most widely celebrated holidays, bringing vibrant festivals, lively parades, and festive gatherings to Bucks County,” said Carly Wible, manager of the TMA Bucks program. “With themed cocktails and green pints flowing, alcohol consumption tends to spike, increasing the risk of impaired judgment and dangerous decisions, especially when it comes to driving under the influence.”

Drunk drivers are a continuing problem on our roads, especially around days like St. Patrick’s Day, officials said.

People need to know that they can go out for a night of fun and return home safely by ensuring they have a sober driver take them home.

“Don’t be the reason someone —including yourself —doesn’t get home,” Wible said. “Please plan to celebrate responsibly. That should begin even before you go out to celebrate by deciding who will be your sober designated driver or whether you’ll be using a ride-sharing service, public transit like SEPTA, or even a taxi.”

TMA Bucks said that no one should mix drinking and driving, and no one is immune to the effects of drunk driving.

Anyone who finds themselves drunk and stranded with their vehicle should give their keys to a sober driver. Friends should also never get in a car with a drunk driver.

"If you have a friend who is about to drive drunk, take away their keys and help them get home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone — you might be saving their life or someone else’s," TMA Bucks said. "Always have a plan before you head out for the evening. If you wait until after you’ve been drinking to figure out how to get from one place to the next, you may already be too impaired to make the right choices."