Plan for safety this St. Patrick's Day weekend

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is reminding people celebrating this weekend and on St. Patrick's Day to avoid drinking and driving.

Drunk drivers are not only a danger to themselves and others, they are also at risk of being arrested, said Jody Oscarson, from the department's traffic safety office.

She said law enforcement officers are stepping up DWI patrols this weekend and on St. Patrick's Day Monday.

Most people know they shouldn't drink and drive, but too many people forget to plan how to safely get to and from holiday celebrations, Oscarson said.

"They need to either designate a sober driver or plan on using a cab or a bus, even light right to get from home to the celebration and back again."

The number of motorists arrested for DWI on St. Patrick's Day has steadily increased over the last five years, she said.

There have been more than 1700 alcohol-related crashes and nine deaths reported on those past five St. Patrick's Days.

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