This Super Bowl Sunday, the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) announced it will deploy extra offers in DUI Saturation Patrols during and following the game. The move is an obvious one for a dedicated police department set on keeping its citizens safe.
Here’s a fun fact: It’s been estimated Americans consume roughly 325 million gallons of beer on Super Bowl Sunday. We’re not mathematicians (we’re writers) but if you factor in that the total U.S. population is 325 million, it seems like we’re all drinking a whole lot of beer.
If you and your friends are planning to join this Super Bowl statistic on Sunday that’s totally cool but the Newport Beach Police Department (NPBD) is imploring you to designate a sober driver to get your crew home safely.
As a reminder, impaired driving near or above the .08 BAC limit can be deadly, and even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgement to make driving unsafe. In 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 10,497 people died nationwide in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drunk drivers. In California, 1,059 DUI deaths (involving a BAC of .08 or above) were reported to NHTSA that same year.
NPBD upholds the message from the Office of Traffic Safety that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Drug-impaired driving is a problem on California roadways. Driving while impaired – by alcohol, by drugs, or by a combination of the two – is dangerous and illegal. Whether the drug is legally prescribed, an illicit drug, or marijuana, driving while drug-impaired poses a threat to the safety and lives of drivers, vehicle passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists.
“Be sure to have a game plan for Super Bowl Sunday so you – and everyone else on the road – can get home safely,” said Newport Beach Police Sergeant Michael Schiavi. “If you aren’t sober, you have options: a designated driver, ride sharing, public transit … but do not make the decision to get behind the wheel if you are impaired.”
If you can’t rely on your friends, (sometimes who can?), there are other ways to get home safely. The OTS DDVIP app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. (Download DDVIP on App Store or Google Play.) The app allows users to easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb and provides benefits for sober drivers with deals on food and non-alcoholic drinks from participating bars and restaurants.
This Super Bowl Sunday, be a team player, says the NBPD in its official statement, adding,”Fans don’t let fans drive drunk.”
