State Highway Safety officials are warning motorists to plan ahead if they are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this weekend.
“There’s going to be lots of festivities, a lot of parties and a lot of drinking, a lot of green beer," said Alison Kirk, a spokesperson for the Delaware Office of Highway Safety. " So we want people to be extra careful, make sure they have a designated driver and plan that safe ride home this weekend.”
The New Castle County DUI Task Force will be conducting a DUI checkpoint near Wilmington this Saturday.
Last year, police arrested a total of 48 individuals for DUI during St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
“When we have St. Patrick’s Day festivities we know there's a lot of drinking going on, so we definitely want people to take that extra precaution, having that safe ride home, being responsible, because we don’t need another 48 individuals arrested for DUI again.”
In 2014, 54 percent of all vehicle deaths in Delaware were alcohol related.