Law enforcement officials throughout the state will be cracking down on drunk driving during the Super Bowl weekend. It’s all a part of the “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk”.
When it comes time for the big game, fans will be cheering either the Seahawks or the Broncos at a local sports bar, a restaurant or over at a friend or family member’s house. With these gatherings, we see a significant increase in the number of drunk driving accidents into the early and late evening hours. Many departments will have higher staffing levels to help get those dangerous drivers off of our roadways.
Our Highland drunk driving accident lawyers note these Super Bowl gatherings usually begin in mid-afternoon and extend deep into Sunday night, creating mayhem that rivals some of the other big drinking days, such as St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, July 4 and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, when kids returning from college regroup with their friends. Luckily, over 170,000 NFL fans pledged to be designated drivers this season – a new record! But that doesn’t mean we’re in the clear. We’re asking you to step up and do your part to help make our roadways as safe as possible during this year’s Super Bowl extravaganza.
Whether attending the game, watching at a sports bar or hosting a party, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding everyone that Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk and to ensure a designated driver is a member of their team. The agency also offers these additional safety tips:
-Before heading out, make sure that you have a designated driver if drinking is involved in your Super Bowl celebration.
-Avoid drinking too much alcohol in too short of a time. It’s important to pace yourself and take frequent breaks for food and non-alcoholic beverages.
-If you find yourself intoxicated without a designated driver, consider asking a sober friend or family member to give you a ride home, call a cab company or stay where you are and sleep it off.
-Consider using your community’s sober ride program.
-If you think a friend or family member who has been drinking is thinking about getting behind the wheel, help them find an alternative.
-Make sure that you always wear your seat belt. This is your best defense against injury or death in the event of an accident with a drunk driver.
If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, remember to check to make sure that everyone’s got a designated driver before kickoff. Make sure that you’ve got plenty of non-alcoholic beverages for these drivers. Consider closing down the bar at the end of the third quarter. Begin serving dessert and coffee to help sober up fans. And most importantly, make sure that you have phone numbers to local cab companies to help intoxicated friends and family members to get home safely.
Indiana Injury Attorney Burton A. Padove handles car accident claims throughout northern Indiana, including Gary, Hammond and Calumet City.
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