During the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day period, 36% of motor vehicle crash fatalities involved drunk drivers, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Moreover, from 2016 to 2020, 287 people lost their lives in drunk-driving collisions during the St. Patrick’s Day period.

Commercial fleet drivers should be aware that the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, which typically begins at 6 p.m. on March 16 and runs through March 17, can be a deadly one on the nation’s roadways.

Therefore, it is more important than ever to practice defensive driving.

Experts offer the following advice:

• If you are near a vehicle that veers out of its lane or tends to constantly speed up and slow down, there is a good chance the driver is impaired. Steer clear of vehicles like this.

• Do not engage with aggressive or hostile drivers who may yell out the window, blow horns, or speed. Sometimes, these drivers are not only hostile, but also impaired.

• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement to report the driver.

Some 11,654 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2020 alone. On average, one person died in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020, according to NHTSA.