Chattanooga, TN – As St. Patrick’s Day 2025 approaches, the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are reminding drivers that impaired driving is never an option. With celebrations taking place across the country on and around Monday, March 17, authorities are emphasizing the message: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
Alcohol-impaired driving continues to be a deadly factor during holiday celebrations. Between 2018 and 2022, NHTSA reported that 38% of all traffic fatalities during the St. Patrick’s Day period (6 p.m. on March 16 to 5:59 a.m. on March 18) involved drunk drivers. In 2022 alone, 74 lives were lost due to impaired driving during the holiday, with nearly 50 of those crashes involving drivers who had a blood alcohol concentration nearly twice the legal limit.
Chattanooga Police emphasize that driving while buzzed, even if a person does not feel intoxicated, poses serious risks. “Embracing St. Patrick’s Day and its traditions is one thing; engaging in the deadly behavior that is drinking and driving is another,” said DUI Supervisor Sergeant Casey Cleveland.
“As law enforcement officers, we witness firsthand the devastation and loss caused by alcohol-impaired driving, along with the lasting pain it inflicts on families, friends, and entire communities. We’re partnering with NHTSA to share the reminder that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.”
CPD urges the public to plan ahead if drinking is part of their St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Drivers should arrange a designated sober driver, use a taxi or rideshare service, or stay where they are rather than risking impaired driving. Friends and family members are also encouraged to step in and prevent someone from getting behind the wheel if they have been drinking.
If anyone sees a drunk driver in Chattanooga, they are urged to report it to CPD at 423-698-2525.