Be a Super Bowl MVP – The Designated Driver

John Bobel

January 30, 2017

Football fans across the country will celebrate America’s most-watched sporting event, Super Bowl LI, on Sunday, Feb. 5.

For many, the Super Bowl celebration will include drinking beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages. That’s the reason the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) and law enforcement officials are teaming with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a special Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk reminder to urge all football fans to call the right play by passing the keys to a sober driver before the drinking begins.
“Be the Super Bowl MVP,” said KOHS Executive Director Dr. Noelle Hunter. “Volunteer to be a designated driver to help your family and friends get home safely.”

Drunken driving can be deadly. With a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, a driver is considered alcohol-impaired, but even a small amount of alcohol can impair judgment and reaction times enough to make driving unsafe.

According to NHTSA, 10,265 people – 29 percent of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2015 – were killed in crashes that involved an impaired driver.

“Driving impaired is never worth the risk, so if you do plan to drink, remember to pass the keys to the sober driver before kickoff,” said Hunter.

Kentucky residents may find sober ride options by using the free Drive Sober Kentucky app. The app provides phone numbers to taxi and limousine services and sober ride programs, along with a one-touch dial feature to report a drunken driver. Additional information can be found at www.DriveSoberKY.com.

Designated sober drivers for Super Bowl weekend should refrain from drinking alcohol and enjoy the game with food and non-alcoholic drinks instead. To be featured on NHTSA’s national Wall of Fame, designated sober drivers can tweet @NHTSAgov during Super Bowl LI.

“This Super Bowl weekend, be a team player and help keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. Designate your sober driver before the big game begins. And remember – Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk,” said Hunter.