Please Stay Safe this St. Patrick's Day Weekend: NHSP

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire State Police are warning Granite Staters that while they should have a festive St. Patrick's Day weekend, they should also be safe, according to a press statement from Lt. Jeffrey Ladieu of the NHSP.

"We would also like to take this opportunity to remind anyone who will be celebrating with alcohol to never mix drinking and driving a motor vehicle," he noted.

To prevent celebrations from turning into tragedies, the New Hampshire State Police recommends the following steps to have a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely.
• If available, use your community’s sober ride program.
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, please call 911.
• And remember, if you know people who are about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

"Our troopers are committed to ensuring safe travel throughout the state and we’ll continue our efforts to reduce collisions during this upcoming holiday weekend," Ladieu stated. "As always, our troopers will be proactive in patrolling and enforcing the motor vehicle laws in an effort to keep all of those who share the roadways safe. All it takes is a little planning. Don’t rely on luck this St. Patrick’s Day. Be sure to get a sober ride home."

Cruiser photo courtesy of Brian Blackden.