If you’re a football fan, you probably have plans to watch the Super Bowl with friends and family. Events as grand as the Super Bowl are celebrated to large entent at bars, eateries, and house parties. Such events can mean great music, delicious food and, for some, alcohol. Unfortunately, many sports fans get caught up in the excitement of the game and make poor decisions when they’ve had too many to drink.

Dangers on the Roads for Super Bowl Sunday

Fatalities related to drunk driving is an alarming statistic in the United States, where, on average, one person is killed in an alcohol-related crash every 51 minutes. In 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded 10,511 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drunk drivers. The number of drinking and driving violations spike on holidays and popular drinking days such as the Super Bowl.

Consumption of Alcohol

Super Bowl Sunday is one of the heaviest drinking days of the year for Americans, who purchase an estimated 50 million cases of beer around this time. This level of drinking is matched only on New Year’s and St. Patrick’s Day in the United States. According to Nielsen reports, “wine and spirits both generate nearly half a billion dollars in sales, each, in the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl.”

Drunk Drivers

Unfortunately, celebratory drinks during the big game lead to a substantially higher number of drunk drivers. On Super Bowl Sunday, drinking and driving violations jump 22 percent on average nationwide according to Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) research. It’s up to you to make the right decisions and ensure that you or your friends don’t become part of the drunk driving statistic.

Tips for Safety

The NHTSA's "Fans Don’t Let Fan’s Drive Drunk" campaign reminds football fans and Super Bowl attendees to have fun, but take this night seriously.

• Know the rules. It’s illegal to drive in America with a BAC of .08 or higher (.05 or higher in Utah). If you get pulled over, you’ll be arrested and prosecuted. The average cost of a DUI is approximately $10,000.
• Play it safe. Make transportation arrangements before drinking. Assign a designated driver within your group, arrange for a rideshare service or use public transportation.
• Lean on your MVP. Encourage party guests to be designated drivers and celebrate their decision to be safe. It’s not always fun to remain sober while everyone else is drinking.
• Know the score. Almost one in every three deaths on the road involve drunk driving. Don’t become part of that statistic.

Be A Good Host

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party at your house, be sure that your attendees have plans to get home safely if they intend to drink. If you’re sober, offer to drive for your guests. The inconvenience is worth the risk of someone driving drunk.

Super Bowl Sunday can be great fun, but remember, fans don’t let fans drive drunk. Enjoy the big game, and help do your part to keep the roads safer this year.

Intoxalock Can Help

If you do get arrested and convicted of a drunk driving or DUI charge, Intoxalock is here to help. Our state specialists can help you navigate your state’s law, help you locate an installation center, schedule an appointment and set up your lease. Call us today at (833) 623-0200.