Increased patrols on rural roads March 11-17 to deter impaired drivers

RALEIGH – Luck won’t be on the side of those who choose to drink and drive as St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated over the coming week.

From today until March 17, statewide law enforcement officials will increase saturation patrols and driver checkpoints, with a focus on rural roads, to keep travelers safe.

“Alcohol and other impairing substances tend to be a part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, so we implore everyone to consume responsibly and avoid getting behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking,” said Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White. 

Sheriff White’s office hosted the statewide kickoff event Friday in Louisburg for the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s holiday “Booze It & Lose It” campaign. 

“Having a plan in place to get home safely is imperative to avoid seriously injuring or killing yourself or someone else in a car crash,” White said.

A total of 229 alcohol-related crashes and five fatalities occurred on North Carolina roads during last year’s St. Patrick’s Day enforcement campaign period. These numbers are a sobering reminder that there are severe consequences for reckless behavior. 

“Because St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, we anticipate that alcohol consumption will increase both on the 17th and the weekend leading up to the holiday,” said GHSP Program Director Mark Ezzell. “Don’t take a chance. Designating a sober driver or using ride-sharing services and public transportation is the only safe alternative.”

There were more than 12,000 alcohol-involved crashes in North Carolina in 2023, resulting in 367 deaths.

The “Booze It & Lose It” campaign complements the greater effort of NC Vision Zero – a traffic safety initiative focused on eliminating deaths and serious injuries on North Carolina roadways while improving access to safe, sustainable and equitable mobility for everyone.