Allstate Encourages Washington Drivers Not to Rely on Luck of the Irish This St. Patrick’s Day

March 10, 2011 - PRLog -- Contact:   Shauna McBride
   (425) 489-5516

Don’t Rely on “Luck of the Irish” This St. Patrick’s Day
Allstate Insurance Reminds Partygoers That Green Beer + Driving = DUI

DRUNK DRIVING FACTS:
•   Thirty-seven percent of the drivers and motorcyclists involved in fatal car accidents on St. Patrick’s Day last year had an illegal blood alcohol content of .08 or above.
•   63 percent of those impaired drivers and motorcyclists died in a crash.
•   In 2009, there were 103 crash fatalities on St. Patrick’s Day. Out of that number, 47 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.  
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Bothell, WA., [March 7, 2011] – On March 17 everyone is Irish, and green will be seen throughout Western Washington. However, St. Patrick’s Day can be a dangerous holiday due to the large number of impaired drivers on the road.

Impaired driving continues to be one of America’s most-often-committed and deadliest crimes and occurs frequently on St. Patrick’s Day – a holiday synonymous with drinking.

"Drunk drivers share the road with you and your family," says Shauna McBride, Regional Spokesperson, Allstate Insurance. "Even if you never drink and drive, you can help save lives by being a responsible party host, preventing friends and acquaintances from driving drunk and reporting suspicious drivers."

To protect Western Washington families from drunk drivers this St. Patrick’s Day, here are some life-saving tips from Allstate:

•   Don't drink and drive. If you know you will be drinking alcohol, use a designated driver or public transportation.
•   If you spot an impaired driver on the highway, maintain a safe following distance and don't attempt to pass.
•   Report a suspected drunk driver immediately to area law enforcement from your cell phone or a pay phone. Give police as much information (i.e., license plate number, make, model and color of vehicle, direction vehicle is traveling, physical description of driver) as possible.
•   When entertaining guests be responsible yourself. It will be much easier to determine whether or not a guest is able to drive if you’re sober yourself.
•   If your guests drink too much, arrange a ride with a sober driver, call a cab or insist they sleep at your home.
•   When hosting a party, offer plenty of non-alcoholic beverages and serve food to help slow the absorption of alcohol.
•   Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party is over and never pressure others to drink or rush to refill their glasses when empty.

To learn more about safe driving habits, visit www.allstate.com, or call us at 1-800 Allstate®.  

The Allstate Corporation  is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

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Allstate is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Allstate is reinventing protection & retirement to help you insure what they have today & better prepare for tomorrow.