Nebraska troopers patrolling for impaired drivers on St. Patrick’s Day

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Troopers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers on St. Patricks Day, the Nebraska State Patrol announced Thursday.

The patrol, along with the Lincoln Police Department, will have extra enforcement out during the holiday as part of a nationwide effort to curb impaired driving.

“Impaired driving is always dangerous,” said Col. John Bolduc, superintendent of the patrol, in the release. “If your St. Patrick’s Day involves alcohol, make a safe ride home part of the planning.”

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Troopers will be performing “high-visibility” patrols throughout Nebraska from Thursday night to Saturday morning, the patrol says.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that St. Patrick’s Day is “one of the deadliest times on roadways across the country.”

From 2016 to 2020, 287 people were killed in drunk-driving-related crashes during the holiday, according to the patrol.

The patrol offered the following tips to avoid impaired driving on St. Patrick’s Day:

• Plan ahead: Don’t wait until after you’ve been drinking to make your safe ride plans.
• Know your options: Designate a driver, call a cab, or use a rideshare.
• If you’re the designated driver, take your job seriously and don’t drink.
• If you see an impaired or dangerous driver, report it to the NSP Highway Helpline at *55.