Prone to Shenanigans This St. Paddy’s Day?

Tipsy Tow Is Your Lucky Charm If You’ve Had Too Much To Drink

March 14, 2018 - St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t have to be dangerous for those on Oklahoma roads thanks to AAA Oklahoma. The motor club provides free Tipsy Tow rides to those who have overindulged at gatherings and urges all party-goers and hosts to have a plan to avoid impaired driving. Since the holiday falls on a weekend also filled with March Madness basketball games, AAA anticipates an increased demand for the service.

“If alcohol is part of the St. Patrick’s Day festivities, make sure you designate a sober driver, call a taxi, ride share service or call AAA’s Tipsy Tow,” advised Leslie Gamble, AAA Oklahoma spokesperson. “Don’t get behind the wheel if you've been drinking and don’t let others.”

Crashes involving alcohol and drug use soar on St. Patrick’s Day. In 2016, 261 drivers were involved in such crashes in the state, according to the latest data available from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office. The increase was more than double the year before. And according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Office (NHTSA), during the 2016 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, 39% of all motor vehicle crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. 

Tipsy Tow is a free alternative to possibly getting a DUI or worse. It’s available from noon on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17, until 4 a.m. on Sunday, March 18, in metro Tulsa, metro Oklahoma City, Muskogee, Bartlesville, Tahlequah, Enid, Ardmore, Lawton and Shawnee. To access Tipsy Tow, call 1-800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) and just say, “I need a Tipsy Tow.” AAA will pick up drivers and their vehicles and make sure both get home safely, no questions asked, within a 15-mile radius from point of pick up.

“Judgment is the first casualty when somebody starts to drink alcohol,” added Gamble. “This leads to poor decision-making, like choosing to drive. It can be a fatal mistake.”

St. Patrick’s Day Party hosts can support designated drivers and those who choose zero-proof options with C:\Users\lgamble\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\86NJA76Q\aaa.com\public-affairs\mocktailsmocktails and party planning tips (ok.aaa.com/public-affairs/mocktails) from AAA to make sure good luck abounds for everyone.

Tipsy Tow is a AAA Oklahoma program and is not offered nationwide.