RICHMOND, Va. — Super Bowl Sunday is obviously known as the biggest football night of the year. Even if you’re not a fan of the teams playing, you will probably watch, along with another 114 million viewers. This means there will be millions of parties across the nation Sunday night.
With all the partying, comes more drinking and the possibility of drunk drivers.
If your Super Bowl game plan includes drinking, then the NFL, Virginia State Police and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration want you to add a designated driver to your lineup. The groups are reminding Super Bowl fans about the importance of picking a sober designated driver for the big game.
State Police will be stepping up patrols during and following the Super Bowl in order to deter, detect and arrest drunk drivers.
VSP released these reminders to help keep yourself and friends safe:
- Designate your sober driver, or plan another way to get home safely before the party begins.
- If you don’t have a designated driver, then ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or just stay in for the night.
- Use your community’s sober ride program, reserve an Uber ride, or take public transportation.
- Never let friends drive if they have had too much to drink.
- Always buckle up – it’s still your best defense against drunk drivers.
Here are five things Super Bowl party hosts can do to protect their guest:
- Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in a drunk-driving crash.
- Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange alternate transportation.
- Serve lots of food and include lots of non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
- Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.
- Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who has had too much to drink.
“Not only does an impaired driver put lives at risk on our highways, but also runs the very likely risk of getting arrested for DUI,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “No game or drink is worth losing a life over, so please be responsible and Drive to Save Lives.”
