Police to Crack Down on Drunken Driving on Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl weekend is a great time to party—safely.

The Avoid the 13 is the Santa Clara County DUI Task Force which joins forces with the California Office of Traffic Safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Football League and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM), and which will be out on patrol to deter drinking and driving during Super Bowl Sunday.

On Sunday, Feb. 3, the Avoid the 13 DUI Task Force will deploy special roving DUI patrols in several communities throughout the area to stop and arrest drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs.

"Before choosing to drink, choose a sober designated driver. Avoid the unsportsmanlike conduct of driving drunk by handing off your keys so that you, your passengers, and everyone on our roads can safely arrive home. You will not be able to enjoy a 49er win from our jail," said Santa Clara County Department of Correction Chief John Hirokawa.

In 2012 in California, 774 people were killed in DUI crashes, with more than 24,000 injured. These drunk-driving fatalities accounted for 29 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in California. In addition, alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes was almost twice as high during the weekend (31 percent than during weekdays (16 percent) and four times higher at night (37 percent) than during the day (9 percent), according to NHTSA.

"We don’t want anybody to have this experience," said California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division Chief Teresa Becher. "Super Bowl Sunday is absolutely a time for us to celebrate, but we need to be responsible when it comes to driving. Please be prepared with a designated driver and then ensure your designated driver is sober. Let’s all do our part to keep our Bay Area roadways safe this Super Bowl."

The Avoid DUI Patrols are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety who reminds everyone to report drunk drivers by calling 911.

If you’re attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a sports bar or restaurant:

• Designate your sober driver before the party begins.
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself. Eat plenty of food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
• If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or if possible stay where you are for the night and don’t drive until you are sober.
• Use your community’s sober ride program or enter www.ruok2drive.com in your smartphone’s browser for the OTS Cab Finder.
• Never let friends drive drunk.   Arrange a safe way for them to get home.
• Always buckle up. It’s still your best defense against other drunk drivers.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party:

• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with sober drivers.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages 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. The fourth quarter is perfect for serving coffee and dessert.
• Keep the phone numbers of local cab companies on hand and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving drunk.
• Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in a drunk-driving crash.
• If an underage person drinks and drives, the parent may be legally liable for any damage, injury or death caused by the underage driver.
• Likewise, parents or other adults who provide alcohol to, or host a party where alcohol is available to, those under age 21 could face jail time.

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