The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is reminding motorists to be safe during St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is warning Iowans to not drink and drive this St. Patrick’s Day. Establish who will be the designated driver before going out to ensure you have a safe ride home. Extra law enforcement will be on the roads through March 19th to keep motorists safe.

On average, 68 people die nationwide each St. Patrick’s Day weekend. In 2014, 28-percent of all crash fatalities during that time involved drunk drivers, and that rose to nearly 50-percent between midnight and 6 a.m.