St. Patrick’s Day is Friday, and law enforcement will have extra bodies out to try and keep Iowa residents safe.

Iowa State Patrol Trooper Shelby McCreedy says that St. Patrick’s Day is the holiday where they see the most people get pulled over for driving under the influence or operating while under the influence. She adds that it’s also the time of year where they see a dramatic increase in traffic accidents. Trooper McCreedy advises everyone to be safe while driving, even those that aren’t or won’t be drinking.

“Obviously, you know, it’s not just about what you do, but it’s about what others do as well. Because we’re only 50% of the equation as motorists on the roadway, we can only control what we do. We can’t control what other people do.”

Trooper McCreedy tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the Iowa State Patrol already increased the number of troopers on patrol back on March 11th, and will continue to have the increased patrols until March 19th. She adds that local law enforcement will also have an increased presence until the 19th as well.