01/29/15 LICKING COUNTY, OHIO – The Licking County Health Department’s Safe Community Coalition encourages residents to have a game plan this Super Bowl Sunday. Feb. 1 there will be lots of game-day socializing, and likely this will include drinking. So the Safe Communities Coalition, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alongside highway safety and law enforcement officials are urging football fans to make a game plan now: to drink or drive, not both. If fans plan to drink this Super Bowl Sunday they should designate a sober driver to get them home safely.
NHTSA’s Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk campaign encourages people to make plans ahead of time that will prevent getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. Super Bowl party hosts should plan ahead to prevent their guests from drinking and driving. They can offer non-alcoholic beverages and provide numbers for local cab companies for safe rides home.
Locally, Newark Yellow Cab can be reached at 345-3334; Yellow Cab Co. at 345-1111; and Buckeye Lake Taxi at 928-0666.
According to data from NHTSA, in 2012 there were 10,322 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the U.S. - 31 percent of all the crash fatalities in the nation. This Sunday, don’t become a tragic statistic.
“Drunk driving is completely preventable,” said Carrie Minor, Safe Communities Coordinator and Health Educator at the Licking County Health Department. “All it takes is a little planning. We want fans to remember that it’s a choice: drink or drive, but never do both.”
A driver is considered alcohol-impaired with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, the legal limit in all states.
For those who plan to drink, leave the keys at home. Drunk driving is a serious problem with serious consequences, like a $10,000 fine, jail time or someone’s life. Designate a sober driver, whether it’s a friend, relative, or taxi. For those who plan to drive, refrain from drinking 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.
For more Super Bowl weekend safety information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/SuperBowl.
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