Plan Ahead for Super Bowl Sunday Celebrate the Big Game with These Safety Tips from the Los Angeles Police Department

Los Angeles:  The Super Bowl is one of America’s most highly anticipated sporting events, with friends and family gathering in homes, bars and restaurants to cheer on their favorite teams.  As game day approaches and football fans across the state prepare to root for their team, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the National Football League (NFL), would like to remind you and your friends to take every precaution to avoid driving drunk by planning ahead and designating a sober driver because – Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

In an effort to keep the streets of Los Angeles safe this weekend, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will conduct the following driving-under-the-influence (DUI) enforcement activities:

What:
DUI Saturation Patrol

When:
Saturday, February 1, 2014
6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Where:  
North Hollywood
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What:
Sobriety Checkpoint

When:
Saturday, February 1, 2014
8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Where:
West Valley
Reseda Boulevard between Saticoy and Sherman Way
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What:
DUI Saturation Patrol

When:
Sunday, February 2, 2014
2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Where:
Central Bureau
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What: 
DUI Saturation Patrol

When:
Sunday, February 2, 2014
5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Where:
West Valley Area
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What:
DUI Saturation Patrol

When:
Sunday, February 2, 2014
5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Where:
77th Area
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What:
DUI Saturation Patrol

When:
Sunday, February 2, 2014
7 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Where:
Hollywood Area
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“If you plan on drinking alcohol during the big game, we encourage you to designate a sober driver or plan for alternative modes of transportation such as a taxi cab to get you home safely,” said Sergeant Karmody, Traffic Coordination Section.  “A taxi cab may cost you $30, but that’s nothing compared to the $10,000 or more in fees, fines, and the stigma that can stem from getting a DUI.”

Nationally in 2012, alcohol-impaired driving crashes took 10,322 lives.  Californians witnessed 802 deaths in DUI crashes on their streets and highways over the same time period.  These crashes were
31 percent more likely to occur on weekends than on weekdays.

Whether watching at a bar or hosting a party, the NFL, the Office of Traffic Safety, NHTSA, and the Los Angeles County Avoid DUI Task Force reminds everyone that Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.  Before choosing to drink, choose your team’s MVP – a sober designated driver.

If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a sports bar or restaurant, the following tips are recommended:

Before the party begins, designate your sober driver, or plan another way to get home safely;

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 just stay for the night;

Use your community’s sober ride  or free tow program if one exists;

If you see someone on the road who you suspect is drunk, don’t hesitate to call 911. Be prepared to report a description of the vehicle and the direction of travel; and,

Remember, your seat belt is your best defense against a drunk driver in a crash.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party:

Make sure all your guests designate a sober driver in advance, or arrange for alternate transportation to ensure they get home safely;
Serve food and include non-alcoholic beverages at the party – you can find delicious, non-alcoholic Drinks (Designated Driver Drinks) by visiting the OTS Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS and clicking on the Mixology Center tab;

Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert; and,

Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who has had too much to drink.

The checkpoint funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that reminds everyone to ‘Report Drunk Drivers!

Call 9-1-1.’  For more information visit:

www.FansDontLetFansDriveDrunk.org

http://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS

http://twitter.com/#!/OTS_CA