MADISON (WKOW) -- Federal, state, and local officials are reminding motorists to celebrate the Super Bowl responsibly by planning ahead.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Football League and TEAM (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management), have joined forces with local law enforcement to spread the word about designating a sober driver on Super Bowl Sunday.
"Last year, there were no fatal traffic crashes in Wisconsin on Super Bowl Sunday, and law enforcement officers will crackdown on impaired drivers again this Sunday to prevent deaths and injuries," State Patrol Major Sandra Huxtable, director of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Safety said.
The Wisconsin State Patrol and its law enforcement partners are striving for zero deaths and injuries from traffic crashes this Sunday.
"Officers will be particularly focused on preventing drunken driving on Super Bowl Sunday because football fans will be at bars and parties before, during and after the game," Major Huxtable said. "That's why we are urging fans to not let their fellow fans drive drunk. The key is to plan ahead by designating a sober driver or finding alternative transportation."
Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney says if you're hosting a party on Sunday, make sure to protect your guests. He says to have plenty of food on hand, offer non-alcoholic beverages, have a designated driver, and be prepared to intervene if someone that has had too much to drink tries to leave.
WisDOT and the State Patrol offer these other life-saving tips for Super Bowl Sunday:
- Don't serve any amount of alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. Wisconsin's Absolute Sobriety Law prohibits drivers under age 21 from having any alcohol in their system while behind the wheel.
- Pace your consumption of alcohol, and don't drink on an empty stomach.
- If you're feeling buzzed, you're probably over the 0.08 limit and risk being arrested for operating while intoxicated if you drive.
- Above all, plan ahead and designate a sober driver.
- Bars and restaurants participating in the Safe Ride Program can provide a ride home for patrons. Visit TLW's SafeRide page for more information.
- If you see a vehicle traveling erratically and suspect the driver may be impaired, call 911 and provide as much detail as possible about your location, along with the license plate and description of the other vehicle.
"Our advice is ‘designate before you celebrate'," Major Huxtable said. "We don't want your enjoyment of the Super Bowl to be ruined by a drunken driving arrest, or even worse a crash that causes serious injuries or death. If everyone will take responsibility for driving sober on Super Bowl Sunday and throughout the year, we can make progress toward the goal of reducing the number of preventable traffic deaths to Zero in Wisconsin."
