The Super Bowl brings families, friends and fans together each year to enjoy the excitement of the big game. In many instances, fans will gather to watch the game at sports bars, restaurants or Super Bowl-themed parties. The California Office of Traffic Safety, along with national organizations and the Avoid the 100 – Los Angeles County DUI Task Force are spreading an important safety message on Super Bowl Sunday – Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

The Avoid the 100 DUI Task Force will be deploying special roving DUI patrols on Sunday, February 3rd in several communities throughout the area, looking to stop and arrest drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs.

In California, 774 people were killed in DUI crashes in 2011, with over 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%) than during weekdays (16%) and four times higher at night (37%) than during the day (9%), according to NHTSA.

If you’re attending a Super Bowl party: 
• Designate your sober driver before the party begins.
• 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 or enter www.ruok2drive.com in your smartphone’s browser for the OTS Cab Finder.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party: 
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
• Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in a drunk-driving crash.
• 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.

CSO Wendy Brewer, Glendora Police Department, (626) 852-4826 wbrewer@glendorapd.org
Inv. Victor Gomez, Gardena Police Department, (310) 217-6135, vgomez@gardenapd.org
Sgt. Rich Phillips, Glendale Police Department, (818) 548-3131, rphillips@ci.glendale.ca.us

Avoid DUI Patrols are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety who reminds everyone to Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1!