Everyone wants to have a good time on Sunday, and of course, we all hope the Steelers win.
But having a good time shouldn’t come at a cost.
To help ensure that all football fans are safe this Sunday, PennDOT joined forces with the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association and other taskforces to create public awareness about drinking and driving.
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According to information provided in a press-release by PennDOT, there have been eight deaths in alcohol-related crashes on Super Bowl Sunday in Pennsylvania in the last nine years.
When the Steelers played in the Super Bowl in 2009, there were 55 alcohol-related accidents.
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“The bottom line is that you can’t drink and drive. If you drink, don’t get behind the wheel,” said Steve Cowan, Safety Press Officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 11.
Cowan also said that there will be increased law enforcement out and about in our region on Super Bowl Sunday.
“It would be wonderful if we didn’t have a need for more check points, but that isn’t a reality. We want to get the message out that you don’t ever drink and drive,” he said.
Safety always is the first issue, said Cowan, but it also is illegal to drive while intoxicated.
“Drunk driving kills people,” he said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Football League, TEAM Coalition, and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers also have a campaign against drunk driving on Super Bowl Sunday.
You can, however, still enjoy Super Bowl parties and still be safe.
Cowan said that if you want to drink alcoholic beverages, make sure you have plans in place.
“Before you consume any alcohol, plan accordingly," he said. "Have a designated driver, call a cab or use public transportation.”
In his efforts to keep students, faculty and staff safe, Jeffrey Besong, director of public safety at Point Park University, compiled some safety tips.
“I used various sources including information from PennDOT, Pittsburgh City Police, and AAA. We want people to have fun, but we want them to be safe,” he said.
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party:
- Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers before kick-off or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers
- Find unique ways to recognize the designated drivers at your party
- Give them a great spot to watch the game
- Whatever non-alcoholic beverage they are drinking, make sure their glass is always full
- Let them have the first pass at the buffet table
- Make sure their cars are easy to access when it is time to start driving people home
- Serve plenty of food
- Offer a variety of non-alcoholic choices like soft drinks, juice, and water
- Serve one drink at a time and serve measured drinks
- Only serve alcohol to guests over 21 years of age
- Determine ahead of time when you'll stop serving alcohol, such as one hour before the end of the party or at the end of the third quarter of the game (just like NFL stadiums) and begin serving coffee and dessert
- Add the numbers of local cab companies into your phone so they are just one touch away
- Take appropriate steps to prevent anyone from driving while impaired
- Be prepared for guests to spend the night if an alternative way home is not available
If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a sports bar or restaurant:
- Offer to be the designated driver the next time you go out
- Designate your sober driver before the party begins and leave your car keys at home if you plan to drink
- Find unique ways to recognize the designated drivers when you are out at a bar or restaurant by covering cost for parking or even paying for a tank of gas
- Pick up the tab for their food and drink
- Before you go out, add the numbers for local cab companies in your cell phone so if you find yourself in need of a ride, it is just one touch away
In information provided by Cowan, PennDOT reminds Steelers fans that they can check road conditions by visiting www.511PA.com or call 511 from any telephone. Other safety tips may be found at http://www.nhtsa.gov/SuperBowlSunday or www.DriveSafePA.org. If you need a taxi, contact 1-800-TAXICAB.
