The Super Bowl is one of America's most highly anticipated sports events, when friends and family gather in homes, bars and restaurants to celebrate.
As Super Bowl Sunday approaches and football fans across the country prepare for the game, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, along with the National Football League and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management Coalition, have joined forces with Schuylkill County local highway safety and law enforcement officials to spread the message about designating a sober driver.
That message, according to David Everly, regional coordinator with the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program, Pottsville, is "Fans don't let fans drive drunk."
He said that this Sunday, the day of the big game, police throughout Schuylkill County will be out in force cracking down on drunk drivers using the aggressive "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" enforcement.
In addition, Everly said state and local law enforcement will be watching for drunk drivers to help keep roads safe for motorists and are giving fair warning to all partygoers.
"You'll see us making lots of stops during this highly visible enforcement period, and if we suspect anyone is driving while intoxicated, officers will show zero tolerance for drunk driving," Everly said.
According to NHTSA, in 2011, 9,878 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, crashes that were 31 percent more likely to occur on weekends than on weekdays.
"Before choosing to drink, choose your team's MVP - a sober designated driver," Everly said.
The NHTSA offers several safety tips for making this Sunday's big game a safe and enjoyable event:
- If you're attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a sports bar or restaurant, 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 for the night and never let friends drive if they had too much to drink.
- If you're hosting a Super Bowl party, make sure all your guests designate a sober driver in advance or arrange for alternate transportation to ensure they get home safely.
- Serve food and include 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.
- And remember, your seat belt is your best defense against a drunk driver in a crash.
Everly said the enforcement crackdown begins at 6 p.m. Friday and will continue through 5:59 a.m. Monday.