Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Responsibly: Don’t Drive Drunk

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the biggest celebration days of the year, bringing together friends, family, festive gatherings, food, fun, and plenty of green. But while the holiday is filled with shamrocks and good cheer, it’s also one of the most dangerous days on U.S. roads due to impaired driving.

According to national data, nearly half of all fatal crashes on major celebration days involve alcohol. Each year, more than 13,000 people are killed in drunk driving crashes nationwide, making impaired driving one of the leading causes of traffic fatalities in the U.S. These numbers are why safety organizations continue to share a clear message on St. Patrick’s Day: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

Preparation is the key to prevent impaired driving 

The best way to prevent impaired driving is preparation. Before you head out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, decide how you’ll get home. Designate a sober driver, arrange a ride-share, use public transportation, or plan to stay overnight. Waiting until the end of the night, especially if alcohol is involved, can lead to poor decisions that put everyone at risk.

For residents of the greater Washington, D.C. region, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s (WRAP) SoberRide^® program provides a proven, life-saving alternative to driving impaired. Recognized as one of the nation’s most successful free safe-ride programs, SoberRide^® has helped people get home safely since 1991, providing more than 102,515 free safe rides to would-be drunk drivers during this traditionally high-risk period.

Choose SoberRide® if you will be drinking alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day 

WRAP's 2026 St. Patrick’s Day SoberRide® campaign will be in operation beginning at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 and operate until 4:00 am on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk period.

During this twelve-hour period, area residents ages 21 and older celebrating with alcohol may downlo#318425ad the Lyft app to their phones then enter the SoberRide® code in the app’s ‘Payment’ tab (under the ‘Add Lyft Pass’ option) to receive their no-cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. WRAP’s 2026 St. Patrick’s Day SoberRide® code will be posted at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17th on www.SoberRide.com.

SoberRide® is offered throughout Lyft’s Washington D.C. coverage area which includes all or parts of: the District of Columbia; the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s and town therein plus the cities of Bowie, College Park, District Heights, Gaithersburg, Glenarden, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Laurel, Mount Ranier, New Carrollton, Rockville, Seat Pleasant and Takoma Park; and the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William and towns therein plus the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.

As a reminder, the criminal penalties, and other administrative consequences for driving under the influence in the District of Columbia are significant.  See D.C. Code §50-2206.13 (Repl. 2014).  First offenders face up to 180 days in jail, a $1,000 fine and other court costs, along with a driver’s license suspension or revocation of six months to one year.  Suspected impaired drivers may also face heightened penalties and mandatory minimum jail terms for operating impaired with minors in their vehicle, having certain types of drugs in their system, having high blood alcohol concentration levels, and for operating commercial vehicles, including taxicabs.  See D.C. Code §50-2206.11 (Repl. 2014).

Make sure your St. Patrick’s Day is remembered for a fun night with family and friends — not a preventable tragedy. A little planning can go a long way, and the best way to keep the holiday spirit shining is to ensure everyone gets home safely.