Today (Wednesday) marks the launch of a countrywide effort to stem drunk-driving instances as the nation prepares to celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day holiday this weekend. The program, hosted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Iowa Governors Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB), and participating law enforcement agencies, will be keying in on impaired drivers from March 13 through March 21. Iowa State Patrol Trooper and District 4 Public Resource Officer Shelby McCreedy says the week of St. Patrick’s Day has historically been one of the worst on the highways each year in Iowa.
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She says authorities are worried 2024 might be even worse, as the holiday lands on a weekend this year.
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McCreedy says there is nothing wrong with going out to celebrate with friends or family, but revelers should plan ahead before beginning their festivities.
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McCreedy says this is especially true for District 4 and other rural areas, as access to taxi or rideshare services is often much lower than in urban population centers. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), officials have recorded 45 deaths on the state’s roadways as of Tuesday, March 12. This figure is 10 percent lower than by this point in 2023, but the figure remains 21.6 percent above the five-year low and is right in line with the five-year average.