Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 15, 2023

St. Patrick’s Day, which will be celebrated this Friday, March 17, is one of the biggest drinking occasions of the year and, unfortunately, means more drunk drivers on the roads. To help prevent death and injury that often accompany driving under the influence, the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) is ramping up enforcement efforts and the County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is providing safe ride resources for residents who will be celebrating with alcohol.

“In 2020 one person was killed every 45 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “From 2016 to 2020, 287 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday alone. This loss of life is completely preventable. There are a lot of resources available. If you choose to celebrate with alcohol, plan out your night and arrange for a safe ride home in advance.”

Residents are urged to make plans before heading out to celebrate and to consider the use of one of the following safe ride options:

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is providing a SoberRide program throughout the Washington-Metro area. The program offers $15 off of Lyft rides up with a limited number of promotional codes. Codes will be posted by WRAP at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 17, at SoberRide.com. The program provides up to $15 off for rides home on St. Patrick’s Day, from 4 p.m. on Friday, March 17, until 4 a.m. on Saturday, March 18.

MCDOT’s Ride On bus fare is just $1. There are currently 79 routes throughout the County that operate on weekdays from 4 a.m. until midnight. Check Ride On for current bus route schedules and other information.

To learn about other year-round safe ride options, visit the County’s Vision Zero Safe Ride home page.

“St. Patrick’s Day is among the top five drinking days for the year and this year it falls on a Friday,” said Marcus Jones, Chief of Police for the Montgomery County Police Department. “Our Alcohol Initiative Unit will be out in the community conducting a DUI checkpoint. We encourage anyone who plans to celebrate, to plan ahead for a safe way home. Have a designated driver, call a ride share or use SoberRide.”

Impaired drivers should be reported by calling 9-1-1. If possible, and without putting themselves in danger, anyone reporting an impaired driver is asked to obtain the license plate of the vehicle, the direction of travel and a description of the vehicle (make, model and color). 

The promotion of safe ride resources to curb dangerous impaired driving is part of Montgomery County’s Vision Zero Initiative to eliminate serious and fatal injuries from roadways by 2030. For more information on the County’s Vision Zero Initiative visit, montgomerycountymd.gov/visionzero

For more information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.

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Release ID: 23-034
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta, 240-777-2282