Dear Editor:
As your Sheriff of Hudson County we are providing the following as a public service to ensure the safety and well being of our residents during this upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Holiday. We want to ensure that all enjoy this holiday but most importantly that all people are safe and maintain the safety of others while out celebrating with family and friends.
The unfortunate statistics as released by the National Highway Safety Administration indicated that on past St. Patrick’s Day 37 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content of .08 or more. In 2008 there were 134 crash fatalities on St. Patrick’s Day and out of that number 50 had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.
We are strongly recommending the following: the most important is if you are using alcohol never drive while impaired – and never let your friends drive if they are impaired. Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin and before drinking designate a sober driver. The best plan is to leave your car keys at home. If you are impaired, use a taxi, call a sober family member or friend or use public transportation. If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement. Most importantly, if you know someone is about to drive impaired, take their keys and make other arrangements for the person to get where they are going safely. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else while driving impaired, but the trauma and arrest for driving while impaired is significant.
On behalf of all in the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office we wish you and your families a most happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day.
Sincerely,
Sheriff Juan M. Perez
Hudson County