Many local residents will be raising a pint of green beer this weekend in honour of St Patrick’s Day.
Police in Chatham-Kent and beyond will be out in force to keep an eye out for any impaired drivers, with extra patrols and RIDE checkpoints.
Officials with Mothers Against Drunk Driving say nearly 78,500 federal charges and provincial short-term suspensions are laid for impaired driving annually. That averages out to about 9 charges and short-term suspensions handed out to drivers every hour.
Revelers are reminded to call a cab, take public transit, arrange a designated driver, or call a sober friend or family member, and never get in the vehicle with a driver who’s been drinking.
