Pine Bluff, Arkansas – As St. Patrick’s Day celebrations approach, the Pine Bluff Police Department is urging residents to think ahead before the first party starts and before the first toast is raised. The department is sending a clear reminder that festive nights can turn tragic when someone chooses to drive after drinking, even if they feel “fine” or believe they are only slightly impaired.
Police officials say the goal is simple: prevent crashes, prevent injuries, and prevent deaths by making sure people plan for a sober ride home. To strengthen that message, the Pine Bluff Police Department announced it is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Arkansas Highway Traffic Safety Office to push awareness and encourage safer choices during the holiday.
Plan Ahead Before the Celebration Begins
The department noted that each year, lives are lost because of impaired driving, and St. Patrick’s Day can be a time when more people take risks. Officers are emphasizing that waiting until the end of the night to figure out transportation is exactly when bad decisions happen. Instead, they are asking everyone who plans to celebrate to make a plan in advance and stick to it.
The reminder centers on a message many safety campaigns repeat because it is easy to understand and hard to ignore: “Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.” Police say there is no safe level of impairment behind the wheel. If you drink, do not drive. If you know you will be around alcohol, decide ahead of time who will be the designated driver, or use another safe option to get home.
The department is also asking the community to help protect local streets by speaking up if something looks wrong. If residents see a driver they believe may be impaired, they are encouraged to call dispatch at (870)541-5300 and report it. Officers say quick reporting can stop a dangerous situation before it turns into a crash.
Lieutenant DeShawn Bennett, the Public Information Officer for the Pine Bluff Police Department, reinforced the message with a direct reminder to keep the holiday from becoming a heartbreak, “Enjoy the holiday responsibly and make a plan for a safe ride home.”
With St. Patrick’s Day events drawing people out, the department says this is the time to be smart, look out for one another, and treat getting home safely as part of the celebration itself. Pine Bluff police are closing the reminder with the same bottom line they want every driver to remember: celebrate responsibly, and don’t drink and drive.
