ATLANTA — At sports bars, pubs and parties across the country, St. Patrick’s Day 2010 will bring out more than the obligatory servings of corned beef and cabbage, funny top hats and mugs of green beer. St. Patrick’s Day has become one of America’s most popular drinking holidays. Proof of national origin is not required. So literally anyone can join the thousands of partiers who end up drunk behind the wheel, making this traditional Irish-American holiday a dangerous national night out for everyone on our highways.

On St. Patrick’s Day in 2008, 37 percent of the drivers and motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above. DUI has in fact become part of the deadly tradition that comes with celebrating the luck of the Irish.

“Whether you’re meeting a few friends after work at the pub or on a road trip to a mega-party like Savannah’s famous St. Patrick’s Day parade, if alcohol is part of your plans, never drive after drinking,” said Director Bob Dallas of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). “And just as important, never let your friends drive if they’ve been drinking either. We emphasize this lifesaving lesson on adult drinking holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s a rule you can live with 365 days a year.”

Not even a lucky four-leaf clover can change your odds of being in a DUI crash on St. Patrick’s Day if you drive drunk. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that in 2008, there were 134 crash fatalities on St. Patrick’s Day. Out of that number, 50 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver with a BAC at or above .08.

“Driving impaired is simply not worth the risk,” said Dallas. “Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for DUI can exceed your imagination.”

So don’t push your luck. Before you party, plan ahead with these proven tips to arrive safely home on St. Patrick’s Day:

1. Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.

2. Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.

3. Call a taxi or sober friend or use public transportation to get home safely if you’re impaired.

4. If you see someone impaired try to drive, be a friend and make other arrangements for them to get home safely.

5. Call your local law enforcement if you see a suspected drunk driver on the road.

If you have a St. Patrick’s Day party, make these safety tips part of your guide to being a great host! (Remember, hosts can be held liable and prosecuted too if someone they over-serve ends up in an impaired driving crash.)

• Make sure your guests have designated sober drivers.

• Never serve alcohol to guests under 21 years of age.

• Serve plenty of food. And include soft drinks, juice and water.

• Stop serving alcohol before the party ends. Start serving coffee and dessert instead.