January 31st, 2020 by WCBC Radio

Although the Baltimore Ravens won’t be playing in the big game on Sunday, football fans across Maryland and the region will still be enjoying Super Bowl LIV and the festivities surrounding the big game. AAA Mid-Atlantic 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, like Super Bowl Sunday. Drunk driving can be deadly, and even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgment and make driving unsafe. In 2018, there were 10,511 fatalities in crashes involving drunk drivers.

 

“Drinking and driving is not a game – it’s a deadly combination and a crime – both of which are 100 percent preventable,” said Ragina C. Ali, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Make your winning drive a sober one and designate a driver before you indulge in game day spirits.  Don’t fumble when it comes to safety.”

 

Tips for a Safe Big Game Party

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; call a cab, or stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.
• Buckle up—it’s your best defense against other impaired drivers.

Be a responsible host:

• Offer food and non-alcoholic beverages.
• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.
• 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 handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.