People across Seattle are gearing up for this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration and we’d like to remind everyone that making transportation arrangements before you imbibe is an essential component of the party planning process. Luckily, we’re here to help!
Learn more here: www.seattle.gov/nightlife
Earlier this week, Mayor McGinn highlighted several transportation alternatives to consider before you head out – Park It, Cab It, Transit. Buses and cabs allow revelers to celebrate and leave the driving to professionals. We’ve also made it easier to park your car on our streets overnight to reduce the likelihood of impaired driving. All pay stations have been re-programmed to open at 10 p.m. to sell parking stickers for the following morning. This allows drivers a little more time to get home safely and retrieve their vehicles the next day.
If you plan to travel by vehicle, be sure to select a designated driver who will remain sober and get you home safely. Those who make the bad choice of driving after drinking will be greeted by swarms of law enforcement officers.
Collision data shows that impairment is the number one cause of serious and fatal crashes on our streets and that’s why we are stepping up our enforcement with targeted emphasis patrols. The Seattle Police Department will be out in force looking for impaired drivers from March 14th through the early morning hours of Monday, March 18th. SPD will double the number of officers on our streets focusing on the areas of our city popular for nightlife and the corridors where impairment-related collisions often occur. In addition, troopers from the Washington State Patrol will be monitoring all Seattle-area interstate highways and state routes.
SDOT is supporting this effort by posting special enforcement messages to our network of Dynamic Message Signs which will remind hundreds of thousands of drivers to think twice before drinking and driving.
This work is part of Seattle’s Road Safety Action Plan implementation coordinated with statewide Target Zero DUI emphasis patrols. Partner agencies from all over Washington are working together to ensure that this message reaches deep into society.
So, before you don your green garb and enjoy your first Guinness, make sure you have a well thought-out plan to get home safely. Be Smart. Be responsible. Be Super Safe!
