Be a winner: Celebrate Super Bowl, drive sober

staff report

Super Bowl Sunday: Don’t drink and drive. The money you save in court costs for driving drunk can be spent on your sweetie for Valentine’s Day.

The Mahoning County Operating Vehicle Impaired Task Force will have saturation patrols working throughout the county. The various jurisdictions will set their own hours, said Tracy Styka, task force coordinator. Austintown, for example, said it will have an extra officer on patrol from 6 p.m. to midnight.

The Youngstown Police Department will have extra officers on patrol from noon Sunday until midnight. Officers will concentrate on impaired drivers and speed and safety-belt violations. The extra patrol is being funded by a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol Canfield and Warren posts will have a few extra troopers working the roads from 6 p.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday.

Styka said the task force is joining with the National Football League, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other state and local highway safety and law enforcement officials to remind everyone to act responsibly by designating a sober driver if they plan on drinking alcohol on Super Bowl Sunday.

Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s biggest and most entertaining national sporting events as friends and families gather to socialize and watch the big game, Styka said. Yet, it has also become one of the nation’s most dangerous days on the roads due to impaired driving.

In 2007, fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes accounted for 32 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities. On Super Bowl Sunday (12:01 a.m. Sunday to 5:59 a.m. Monday), 48 percent of the fatalities occurred in crashes where a driver or motorcycle rider had a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher.

Styka said if you are hosting a Super Bowl party:

UYou can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in an impaired-driving crash.

UMake sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.

UServe lots of food and include nonalcoholic beverages at the party.

UStop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.

UTake the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.

If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching at a sports bar or restaurant:

UDesignate your sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys.

UAvoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself — eat enough food, take breaks and alternate with nonalcoholic drinks.

UIf 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 where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.

UUse your community’s sober rides program, such as DD4Hire.

UNever let a friend leave your sight if you think he or she is about to drive while impaired. Remember, “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.”

UAlways buckle up — it’s still your best defense against other impaired drivers.

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.

The Warren Police Department is also joining forces with the NFL and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remind everyone to designate a sober driver if they plan on drinking alcohol on Super Bowl Sunday.