DMV News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Make the Right Decision Before Super Bowl Kick-Off
DMV Urges Football Fans to Select a Designated Driver
RICHMOND - The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles encourages Super Bowl XLV fans to be responsible while cheering on their favorite team February 6. "If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a sports bar or restaurant, designate your sober driver before the party begins," said DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb, the Governor's Highway Safety Representative.
Sometimes it's difficult to find a willing designated driver. "You could offer to be the designated driver the next time you go out, or cover the cost for parking or gas," Holcomb suggested. "Before the party begins, make sure you have the numbers for local cab companies, just in case."
On February 7, 2010, last year's Super Bowl date, there were 19 alcohol-related crashes and three alcohol-related injuries on Virginia's roadways. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every day, 32 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver, which amounts to one death every 45 minutes. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $51 billion. In Virginia, alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes result in average charges of $35,000 for 5.5 days in the hospital.
"To prevent a tragedy from occurring on Super Bowl Sunday, designate a sober driver, and take responsibility for your friends if you are having the party," Holcomb said.
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party:
- Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers before kick-off
- Be prepared for guests to spend the night if an alternative way home is not available
- Serve plenty of food
- Offer a variety of non-alcoholic choices like soft drinks, juice and water
- Serve one drink at a time and serve measured drinks
- Determine ahead of time when you'll stop serving alcohol, such as one hour before the end of the party or at the end of the third quarter of the game (just like NFL stadiums)
