Utah DUI data shows dangers of drinking and driving

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

SALT LAKE CITY — A lot of people are planning to celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday. If you're one of them, state safety experts want to remind you — don't drink and drive.

Some startling numbers showed how dangerous it's become.

The Utah Highway Safety Office reported that St. Patrick's Day is one of the biggest drinking nights of the year.

But it's a problem when people get behind the wheel after celebrating the holiday. The DUI data in Utah showed why.

Drunk driving is an issue year-round, but according to the Utah Highway Safety Office, it's worse on St. Patrick's Day.

In 2025, Utah averaged 30 DUI arrests a day. On St. Patrick's Day, it goes up even higher.

Just since Friday, a blitz of officers in Utah has averaged 37 DUIs a day.

In 2025, the average blood alcohol level for drunk drivers arrested was 0.14 — nearly three times Utah's legal limit. Alcohol-related crashes are 14.6 times more likely to be deadly.

"What that says to us is when you're involved in these crashes, they are severe; these crashes are violent," said Jason Mettmann, Utah Highway Safety Office communications manager.

So to reduce the risk, that's why safety experts keep repeating: Don't drink and drive, don't let a friend drive drunk and always arrange for a safe and sober way to get home.

In recent years, drunk driving has also led to crashes with drivers going the wrong way on the freeway. If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911 immediately.