ST. PATRICK AND THE MAKING OF A LEGEND

Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. In the centuries following Patrick’s death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture: Perhaps the most well-known legend of St. Patrick is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.

IRISH HISTORY IN GEORGIA

Although Chicago historians claim their city’s idea for a river of green was original, some natives of Savannah, Georgia (whose St. Patrick’s Day parade, the oldest in the nation, dates back to 1813) believe the idea originated in their town. They point out that, in 1961, a hotel restaurant manager named Tom Woolley convinced city officials to dye Savannah’s river green. The experiment didn’t exactly work as planned, and the water only took on a slight greenish hue. Savannah never attempted to dye its river again, but Woolley maintains (though others refute the claim) that he personally suggested the idea to Chicago’s Mayor Richard J. Daley.

In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day has traditionally been a spiritual and religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use interest in St. Patrick’s Day to drive tourism and showcase Ireland and Irish culture to the rest of the world. 

DON’T RELY ON THE LUCK OF THE IRISH

This celebratory day is one of the biggest drinking occasions of the year and, unfortunately, means more drunk drivers on the roads. Falling on a Friday, we can expect a fairly dangerous weekend for drivers and passengers alike. During the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18), more than a third (36%) of crash fatalities involved a drunk driver. In fact, from 2016 to 2020, 287 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day period. (statistics from NHTSA) These numbers highlight the importance of designating a sober driver for a celebratory night out, or for having a plan for ride sharing.  

Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly. In 2020, 30% of the pedestrians killed in traffic crashes had blood alcohol concentrations at or above .08. Pedestrians who have been drinking should also arrange for a sober ride or for a sober friend to walk them home.



TOW-TO-GO 

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, AAA is activating their Tow to Go program, hoping to prevent impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. The program is available from 6 p.m. Thursday, March 16th to 6 a.m. Monday, March 20th and offers free and confidential rides to AAA members and non-members who are too impaired to drive. Tow to Go has been in service for 25 years, removing over 25,000 impaired drivers from the road during that time. When someone calls Tow to Go, AAA dispatches a tow truck to transport the impaired driver and their vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius. It is important to note that Tow to Go is not a substitute for emergency services and that in the case of an emergency, individuals should call 911. Tow to Go is designed to be a last resort for those who did not plan ahead, and AAA urges drivers to always choose a designated driver before celebrating.

CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY

Accidents will happen, and more people on the roads—and more impaired people—make accidents more likely. If you or someone you know is involved in a motor vehicle accident, or in an accident as a pedestrian, contact personal injury attorney Dave Thomas of The Thomas Law Firm for a free evaluation of your legal rights.