(Source: https://www.nhtsa.gov/super-bowl-sunday-fans-dont-let-fans-drive-drunk).
The big game is fast approaching. The 4th of February will be here before we know it. Party planning is in full swing. There will be chips, dips, and alcohol. Whether you are hosting a party or attending one, you need a game plan to play it safe and make sure that you, your friends and loved ones do not get behind the wheel of a car drunk. Just like the pros are planning for the actual football game, you too should have a plan in place to prevent drunk driving.
We all know that drunk driving kills. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in its recent safety announcement about the upcoming Super Bowl points out that in 2016 there were over 10,000 deaths in motor vehicle traffic accidents involving drunk drivers. It is a well-known fact that a lot of Super Bowl parties involve alcohol. Therefore, as NHTSA also points out, the public should play it smart by having a “winning game plan in place to not drink and drive.”
According to NHTSA, the following are the keys to the game:
- Know the Rules: It’s illegal to drive drunk, and if you do so you could face severe criminal penalties and consequences.
- Play it Safe: The key here is planning. Make sure to make arrangements for a safe ride, or utilize a bus, train, car service or designated driver. NHSTA also has an app called SaferRide, which is available on Apple and Android mobile phones, and which can connect you to a taxi company.
- Be a Party MVP: All you have to do is volunteer to be a designated driver (and obviously not consume any alcohol at all).
- If You’ve Been Drinking, You’re Benched: Remember that buzzed driving is drunk driving. If someone does try to drive after drinking liquor, beer or wine, make sure they give up their keys, and, if necessary, you should take the keys from someone that has been drinking.
- Buckle up: Don’t forget to wear your seat belt. As NHSTA points out, this is your best defense in any vehicle crash.
The lawyers at Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., have represented the victims of motor vehicle accidents for decades. The firm is all too familiar with the consequences resulting from drinking while intoxicated.
The lawyers at Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., are concerned for the safety of motor vehicle drivers and passengers driving on the roads and highways in Berks County and Schuylkill County, and serve auto, truck and motorcycle accident victims and their families in Reading, PA, Pottsville, PA, and throughout Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia.
From the desk of Adam K. Levin, Esquire.