Photo courtesy of NHTSA

Iowa motorists should expect an increased police presence on the roads this weekend as law enforcement will be on high alert for drunk drivers. This high-visibility campaign began on Wednesday and continues through St. Patrick’s Day. 

Because St. Patrick’s Day is on a Sunday, an increase of alcohol consumption is expected, thus a higher volume of potential drunk drivers. Last March, there were 26 traffic fatalities on Iowa roads, and almost 40% of them occurred during the week of St. Patrick’s Day. 

Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee tells KCII that his department, as well as all agencies in Iowa, are committed to keeping motorists and pedestrians safe during these campaigns. “Our current contract with GTSB is all traffic laws of course, impaired driving, and we do focus on Thanksgiving Eve, New Years Eve, St. Patty’s Day. All those holidays have a correlation to bad crashes and impaired driving. In Henry County we’ve had some success and it’s harder to find somebody that’s intoxicated now. We’re not seeing them as frequently as we used to because over the last decade we’re kind of put a crunch on them.”

Anyone planning on drinking this weekend is urged to find a designated driver, use a ride-share service, or take public transportation.