Never Drive Impaired: Staying Safe Beyond Super Bowl Weekend

Whether their favorite team won or not, many people likely had a blast watching Super Bowl LVI. But while it’s fun to party on Super Bowl Sunday, as with any festivity, it’s important to stay safe and not drive while impaired. 

Georgia State Police emphasized this when they warned people not to drive while impaired during the Super Bowl weekend. According to Cpl. Stewart Parker of the GSP, as reported by Walb News 10, there were 628 crashes in the state during the 2021 Super Bowl weekend, resulting in seven fatalities. 

Parker warned drivers that the GSP would be out looking for impaired drivers, as well as those exceeding the speed limit, not wearing seatbelts, or driving while distracted.

He also gave drivers some tips to avoid driving while impaired. These included being prepared and responsible if you’re going to be drinking during the event, and having a designated driver or using a ride share service if necessary. 

Alcohol Affects How You Drive

But impaired driving isn’t an issue just during the Super Bowl weekend. It’s something people need to be aware of at all times. There can be serious consequences to driving while impaired. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 28 people die every day in the United States as a result of drunk driving accidents. To put this into perspective, this means one person dies every 52 minutes in a drunk driving-related crash in the U.S. 

And you don’t have to be really drunk, either, for alcohol to affect the way you drive. The NHTSA notes that, in 2019, 1775 drunk driving fatalities occurred in accidents where the drivers involved had a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) under 0.8 g/dL (a BAC of 0.8 g/dL is the legal alcohol limit for drivers over 21 in Georgia). 

Be a Responsible Driver

How does a responsible driver behave? Here’s the key: if you’ve been drinking, don’t drive. 

The NHTSA has other tips:

• Plan ahead. If you intend to drink, have a plan for how you’ll get home that doesn’t involve you getting behind the wheel of a car, such as a sober friend who can act as your designated driver.
• Rideshare or taxi. But what if all your friends plan on drinking? When it’s time to go home, call a ride share service, or order a taxi. 
• Look out for your friends. Don’t let a friend drive home if they’ve been drinking. Take away their keys if you have to, and make sure they get home some other way.
• Be a good host. If you’re the one who’s putting on the party, make sure none of your guests try to drive home after they’ve been drinking. Plan for everyone who will be drinking to have someone sober drive them home, or make sure they call a taxi or a ride share service.
• Buckle up. Driving home yourself because you haven’t been drinking? Don’t forget to use your seatbelt. If you encounter an impaired driver while you’re on your way home, being properly buckled up can help save your life if a drunk driver hits your car.

Involved in a Drunk Driving Crash and Need a Tifton Car Accident Attorney? Call Us

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a drunk driving accident, the attorneys at the Hudson Injury Firm can help. Contact us today to talk to an experienced Tifton car accident attorney.