Full Notification

Game Plan for Super Bowl 50: Are You Drinking or Are You Driving?

This is NOT the Time for an Option Play

Stanislaus County, CA – The Super Bowl is America’s most watched national sporting event. On Super Bowl 50, Sunday, February 7, there will be lots of game day socializing that may include drinking. That’s why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the California Office of Traffic Safety and law enforcement officials statewide are urging football fans to call the play now: drinking OR driving. If you plan on drinking on Super Bowl Sunday, designate a sober driver to get you home safely.

The ‘Avoid the 12 - Stanislaus County DUI Task Force’ will be deploying 3 Roving DUI Saturations Patrols during and following Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup. Officers will deploy into communities where collision data reveals high incidents of DUI crashes and arrests.

NHTSA’s Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk campaign encourages people to make plans ahead of time that will prevent them from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. Driving impaired could result in injury or death for you or others on the road.

According to 2014 data, 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in the United States – 31 percent of all vehicle crash fatalities in the nation, with crashes spiking on the weekends. California’s 2014 data reveals that 882 individuals were killed in DUI crashes.

A driver is legally considered alcohol-impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. The use of drugs and other factors can lead to arrest or crashes at much lower alcohol levels. This February 7, don’t become a tragic Super Bowl stat – Fans Don’t Let fans Drive Drunk.

“Drunk driving is completely preventable,” said Deputy Patrick McCulloch. “All it takes is a little planning. We want fans to remember that it’s a choice. Drink or drive—but never do both.”

Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects.

For those who plan to drink, leave your keys at home. Designate a sober driver, whether it’s a friend, relative, taxi, ride share or public transportation. The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP (Designated Driver VIP) mobile app is available for free download on iOS and Android devices. The DDVIP app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users will be offered free incentives at each bar to celebrate their life saving role. They can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen.

For those who plan to drive, refrain from any alcohol. Instead, enjoy the game with food and non-alcoholic drinks. Being a sober, designated driver is a key role on Super Bowl Sunday. You might just save a life.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl 50 party, designate a responsible driver before the game begins. One way to thank your designated driver is by tweeting us their name during Super Bowl 50, which will appear on NHTSA’s Wall of Fame.

If you’re the designated driver, be sure to tweet us your name during Super Bowl 50, and make NHTSA’s Wall of Fame!

This enforcement effort is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who reminds everyone to be alert and ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911’ if you see a dangerous driver call immediately!

KNOW YOUR ROLE ON SUPER BOWL 50
Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk
Are You Drinking?
If so, don’t drive. Follow these tips to have fun, stay alive, and avoid getting pulled over or crashing your vehicle on game day.
• Before Super Bowl Sunday, make a game plan that includes a sober driver – someone who will not be drinking at all.
• The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP (Designated Driver VIP) mobile app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users will be offered free incentives at each bar to celebrate their life saving role. They can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen. Leave your keys at home and designate a sober driver.
• Consider getting a sober ride – ride share or taxi - to your destination, so you won’t even have the option later to drive impaired.
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself. Eat plenty of food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
• Stop drinking after the third quarter, just like they do at the actual stadium.
• Make sure your designated driver is sober, not just less intoxicated than you.
• Tweet your designated driver’s name to NHTSA to make their Wall of Fame.
• Don’t let others drive drunk. Arrange a safe way for them to get home, too.
• If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; book a ride share, call a cab, friend, or family member to come get you; or if possible stay where you are for the night and don’t drive until you are sober.
• When you ride home with your sober driver, wear your seat belt. It’s your best defense in a crash.
• Walking impaired can be dangerous. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.

Or Are You Driving?
If so, don’t drink. Your responsible choices can save lives.
• Take your role seriously as the designated sober driver—don’t drink and drive.
• Enjoy the party with food and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Brag about your MVP status on social media using the hashtag #designated driver.
• Or during Super Bowl 50, tweet your name to NHTSA, and make their designated driver Wall of Fame.
• Wear your seat belt and require your passengers to do the same.
• If someone you know has been drinking and tries to drive, take their keys and help them get home safely. They’ll thank you later. Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

Are You Hosting a Super Bowl Party?
If so, you’re the team captain! Designate a responsible driver now to help your guests get home safely.

• Ask all of your guests to designate their sober drivers in advance, or help them arrange ride-sharing with sober drivers. If you don’t drink, offer to drive guests home.
• Encourage your drinking guests to pace themselves.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter—this is a good time to serve coffee and dessert.
• Thank the designated sober drivers at your party. You could even acknowledge them on social media using the hashtag #designated driver.
• Provide incentive—offer to tweet your designated driver’s name to NHTSA on Super Bowl 50, and they’ll make the designated driver Wall of Fame.
• Sign up online for a ride sharing service and keep the phone numbers of local cab companies on hand and take the keys away from any guests who are thinking of driving after drinking.
• Remember, if you serve a guest alcohol and he or she gets in a crash that night, you could be held liable.
• If an underage person drinks and drives, the parent or guardian can be legally liable for any damage, injury or death caused by the underage driver.
• Likewise, parents or other adults who provide alcohol to – or host a party where alcohol is available to – those under age 21, could face jail time.

Are You Aware of the Risks?
Drunk driving is a serious problem with serious consequences. Don’t become a Super Bowl stat.

• In 2014 alone, 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes, 31 percent of all crash fatalities.
• An average of 1 alcohol-impaired-driving fatality occurred every 53 minutes in 2014.
• Drunk drivers face jail time, the loss of their driver licenses, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost wages due to time off from work.
• The average DUI case costs approximately $10,000.
• Refusing to take a breath test in many jurisdictions results in immediate arrest, the loss of your driver’s license on the spot and the impoundment of your vehicle. Also, there’s the added embarrassment, humiliation, and consequences of telling family, friends and employers of your arrest.
• If you injure or kill someone in a drunk-driving crash, it’s something you’ll have to live with for the rest of your life.

CONTACT:
Deputy Patrick McCulloch
(209) 869-7162
pmcculloch@stanislaussheriff.com