Football Fans Advised Not to Let Their Fellow Fans Drive While Impaired

Madison, WI – Based on a wide-range of statistics, sports commentators are now making an array of predictions about the Super Bowl this Sunday.  However, the following statistic will not be widely reported—in about the same amount of time that it takes to play the first half of the game, someone likely will be injured or killed in an alcohol-related traffic crash in Wisconsin.

“On average, a person is killed or injured in an alcohol-related crash about every 90 minutes in Wisconsin,” says Dennis Hughes of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Bureau of Transportation Safety. “On Super Bowl Sunday, many people will be drinking at bars and parties before, during and after the game. That’s why law enforcement and traffic safety agencies throughout the state are urging football fans not to let their fellow fans drive drunk.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, young males between the ages of 21 to 34 are the most likely to drive while impaired, and they also are the core audience for major sporting events, like the Super Bowl.

For a safe and fun Super Bowl celebration, WisDOT and its traffic safety partners offer the following life-saving advice:

• If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, serve lots of food and have non-alcoholic beverages available.  Take care of your guests and don’t let them drive if they’re impaired.
• Don’t serve any amount of alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. Wisconsin’s Absolute Sobriety Law prohibits drivers under age 21 from having any alcohol in their system while behind the wheel.
• Pace your consumption of alcohol and don’t drink on an empty stomach.
• Bars and restaurants participating in the Safe Ride Program can provide a ride home for patrons. Visit the Safe Ride web page for more information.
• Above all, plan ahead and designate a sober driver.

“You should always designate before you celebrate by picking a sober driver before the party begins. If you don’t have a designated driver, call a cab or stay where you are,” says Hughes.  “And remember if you’re feeling buzzed, you’re probably over the limit and risk being arrested for operating while intoxicated. The decision to drive while impaired will likely be one you’ll regret the rest of your life.”

Posted @ 10:54 p.m.