DMV News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 31, 2013Media Contact: Sunni Brown
Department of Motor Vehicles
Sunni.Brown@dmv.virginia.gov
Celebrate Super Bowl Sunday Responsibly
DMV Encourages Fans to Designate a Sober Driver, Make it a Team Effort
RICHMOND -Super Bowl Sunday is traditionally a time of celebration, as millions of people gather with friends to socialize and watch the big game. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles encourages safe celebration to make Super Bowl XLVII memorable for all the right reasons. Plan ahead before game day arrives February 3.
"Impaired driving increases the likelihood that you will kill or injure yourself or someone else on the road," said DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb, the Governor's Highway Safety Representative. "At the very least, you could lose your license as a result of drunk driving. On Super Bowl Sunday, make it a team effort to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. If you plan on driving, plan not to drink alcohol."
Holcomb recommended having the numbers for local cab companies handy before the Super Bowl celebration begins, just in case a sober ride is needed. Always buckle up - it's the best defense against drunk drivers.
On February 5, 2012, the date of last year's Super Bowl, there were 40 alcohol-related crashes and 19 alcohol-related injuries on Virginia's roadways. In 2011, there were 28 alcohol-related crashes and 18 alcohol-related injuries on Super Bowl Sunday. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 30 people in the United States die every day in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver, which amounts to one death every 48 minutes. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $51 billion.
"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 don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home or call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you. Be prepared to just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober."
