Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s biggest and most entertaining national sporting events, as friends and families gather to socialize and watch the big game. Yet, it has also become one of the nation’s most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving.
Often, Super Bowl Sunday parties also feature alcoholic beverages in abundance. In 2009, for example, nearly 50 million cases of beer may have been consumed during Super Bowl gatherings (not counting those sold at the actual game).
Our drunk driving accident attorneys in Boston understand that Super Bowl Sunday is a big day for all of us, but it’s important that we make it a safe one. Before heading out for the big game, make sure your play book is filled with safe and sober ways to get home. If you’re hosting the home team at your own house to watch the game, make sure you’ve got a game plan too, to make sure your guests are safe.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 10,225 people were killed in drunk-driving accidents in 2010. These drunk-driving deaths accounted for more than 30 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic deaths in the country that year. During Super Bowl Sunday weekend, that percentage increases tremendously.
Avoid Drinking and Driving:
-Make sure that you have a sober driver before the game begins.
-Never let friends drive drunk. Arrange a safe way for them to get home.
-Keep the phone numbers of local cab companies on hand and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving drunk.
-Avoid consuming too much alcohol too fast. It’s a good idea for everyone that you pace yourself. Be sure to also consume plenty of food, take breaks and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
-Always buckle up. It’s still your best defense against other drunk drivers.
-Use your community’s sober ride program.
-If you don’t have a ride home, remember that aside from the community’s sober ride program, you can also call a cab, use public transportation or call a friend or family member to come pick you up.
Hosting a Safe 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.
-Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in an impaired-driving crash.
-Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who has had too much to drink.
-Be prepared for guests to spend the night if an alternative way home is not available.
-Serve one drink at a time and serve measured drinks.
-Only serve alcohol to guests over 21 years of age.
-Host your party just like they do at the stadium. Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game. The fourth quarter is perfect for serving coffee and dessert.
We want to wish you a safe and happy Super Bowl and whether you’re cheering on the Seahawks or the Broncos, we hope you do so safely.
Call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential appointment — (617) 777-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Easton Man Arrested on 8th Drunk Driving Charge, Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog, January 21, 2014
Weekend DUI Down, Drunk Driving Fatalities Up, Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog, January 15, 2014