Make Sunday’s Big Game a Time for Friends, Family and Football, Not Fatalities

Impaired Drivers Could Cause Dangerous Conditions on Kansas Roads

TOPEKA, Kan. –  Feb. 2, 2018 – Festivities for Sunday’s big football finale are fast approaching, with scores of people making plans such as where to watch and what to eat and drink. AAA Kansas advises party planners and football fans to prepare by designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation options. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities often spike on holidays and popular drinking days, such as Super Bowl Sunday. Drunk driving can be deadly, and even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgement to make driving unsafe. In 2016, there were 10,497 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drunk drivers.

“Tragically, Super Bowl Sunday is becoming one of the most deadly days on our roads because of drunk drivers. As we celebrate and cheer on our favorite team, it’s important not to take the festivities on the road,” advised Shawn Steward, spokesman for AAA Kansas. “Drivers should be extra cautious and not even take the risk of driving impaired. Also, remember that buzzed driving is drunk driving.”

If motorists see a driver on the road who appears to be impaired, they should ask their passenger to call 911 or pull over to a safe spot on the side of the road to call authorities.

Tips for a Safe Big Game Party

Host a great party and prevent the tragedy of a drunk driving crash when your guests leave. Practice AAA Kansas’ ABCs of party giving, which may be found at www.AAA.com/Mocktails along with “zero proof” mocktail recipes without the alcohol.

A few quick reminders for Super Bowl revelers:

Be a responsible partygoer:

• If you plan to drive, don’t drink.
• If you plan to drink, select a designated driver and give them your car keys.
• If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home or call a cab or a ride share service.
• Buckle up — it’s your best defense against other impaired drivers.

Be a responsible host:

• Serve food and provide non-alcoholic beverages.
• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride sharing with other sober drivers.
• Avoid holding an open bar and mix your guests’ drinks yourself.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.
• Keep the numbers for local cab companies and mobile apps for ride sharing services handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.