Call the Right Play for Super Bowl LI: Pass the Keys to a Sober Driver

January 30, 2017 at 1:28 pm brownwoodnewsstaff

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Press Release – Football fans across the country will celebrate America’s most watched national sporting event, Super Bowl LI, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. For many, the celebration will include drinking alcohol.

That’s why Brown County highway safety and law enforcement officials are teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a special Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk reminder to urge all football fans to call the right play on Super Bowl weekend by passing the keys to a sober driver before the drinking begins.

Drunk driving can be deadly. A driver is considered alcohol-impaired with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, but even a small amount of alcohol can impair judgment and reaction times enough to make driving unsafe.

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According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 960 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2015, accounting for 27 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in Texas. Super Bowl Sunday is a risky day for drunk-driving crashes.

“Super Bowl Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. If you want to be the MVP of Super Bowl LI, volunteer to be a designated driver to help your family and friends get home safely,” said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent Courtney Levens. “Drunk driving only leads to disaster and tragedy. It is never worth the risk. If you do plan to drink, remember to pass the keys to the sober driver before kickoff.”

Levens said fans that have been drinking can secure a safe ride home by designating a sober driver, using public transportation, calling a taxi, or rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft.

Designated sober drivers for Super Bowl weekend should refrain from drinking alcohol and enjoy the game with food and non-alcoholic drinks instead. This Super Bowl weekend, be a team player and help keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. Designate your sober driver before the big game begins. And remember: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

A local taxi service, Mr. Taxi, in Brownwood, offers reasonable rates for transportation in town: 325-646-1111

The Texas A&M AgriLife Watch UR BAC program advises that if you’re attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a sports bar or restaurant:

If you don’t have a designated driver, then ask a sober friend for a ride home; or call a cab/rideshare service, another friend, or relative, to pick you up. If you are at a friend’s house, stay the night.
Never let friends drive if they have had too much to drink.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party:

Make sure all your guests have a non-drinking driver to take them home, or arrange for alternate transportation to see that they get home safely.
Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks at the party.
Host your party just like they do at the stadium. Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game, and begin serving coffee and dessert.
Take the keys away from anyone who has had too much to drink.
Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in a drunk-driving crash.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Watch UR BAC program is funded by TxDOT and is provided at no charge to promote alcohol awareness, the dangers of impaired driving, and friends watching out for friends. Contact: [email protected] for booking information.