With St. Patrick’s Day a week away, Delaware highway officials are urging holiday revelers to avoid drinking and driving. Police across the state will be cracking down on those who do.

National statistics show that in 2008, 50 people died in traffic crashes involving an impaired driver on St. Patrick’s Day.

That is why the state Office of Highway Safety is coordinating statewide DUI enforcement for the upcoming weekend, St. Patrick’s Day itself and the following weekend as well.  Fifteen state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies are scheduled to conduct a total of 127 DUI Saturation patrols March 13, 17 and 19– 20.

Additionally, the New Castle County DUI Task Force will conduct an 8-hour-long sobriety checkpoint on March 13t to coincide with the annual St. Patrick’s Day Loop (or Shamrock Shuttle), which involves activities at several bars in Wilmington.  OHS has placed a designated driver message on Loop bracelets that every participant must wear throughout the night.

Agencies conducting patrols include: Camden police, Delaware State Police, Dover police, Felton police, Georgetown police, Laurel police, Middletown police, Milford police, Milton police, New Castle City police, New Castle County police, Newark police, Rehoboth Beach police, Seaford police and Wyoming police.  Last year, police arrested 52 people for DUI during St. Patrick’s Day enforcement activities.

According to the OHS, in 2009, 35 percent (41 of 117) of all vehicle deaths in Delaware were alcohol-related. Since Jan. 1 of this year, three of the state’s 18 motor vehicle fatalities have been alcohol-related.  For more information on OHS’s year round DUI efforts, visit  www.ohs.delaware.gov .

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