Raleigh adding new safety measures to St. Patrick's Day parade months after tragedy

Preparations are underway in downtown Raleigh for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade.

This is the first major parade since the Raleigh Christmas parade, where an 11-year-old girl died while marching with her dance troupe.

The city has made changes to keep parade goers safe on Saturday.

No parking signs are already up on Friday morning. While the parade will look the same as recent years, the rules for those participating has changed. Drivers must be 21 and up and licensed and children are required to be supervised.

Parade vehicles also must be up to date on registrations and have insurance.

The new rules come after Hailey Brooks was hit and killed by an out-of-control pickup truck that lost use of its brakes while she was dancing.

Those participating feel rule changes were needed.

"Given the history of what has happened in parades in the past couple years, I think it's important for Raleigh to have these regulations in place," said St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshall Sandra Holland.

Saturday's parade begins at 10 a.m. on North Wilmington Street and goes through downtown Raleigh.