By Emily Miller
With Super Bowl Sunday right around the corner, it is important to remember that safety comes first and individuals should take extra precaution when driving.
Super Bowl Sunday is often linked to gatherings for the game at parties, restaurants or bars to consumer alcohol and watch the games with friends and family. The combination of excessive alcohol consumption and entertainment would cause harm a driver’s motor skills.
In fact, Super Bowl Sunday is among the most dangerous days to drive in the state of California. More drinking-related crashes happen in California on this day than on any other Sunday in January or February, according to a statement released this past Monday by the California Department of Insurance.
“Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest one-day sporting event in the U.S. and unfortunately one of the most dangerous days on California’s roads and highways,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones in the statement. “Every one of us has a responsibility to ensure we do not contribute to the problem by allowing a drunk or drugged driver to hit the road.”
Officials from the Automobile Club of Southern California in conjunction with Commissioner Jones and CHP Division Assistant Chief Chris O’Quinn teamed up at the Auto Club’s headquarters to highlight the sobering statistics regarding Super Bowl Sunday and alcohol-related traffic accidents.
According to their statistics, there is a 77 percent increase of an alcohol-related fatal and injury throughout the state of California on Super Bowl Sunday. In Los Angeles County, it is 57 percent, and in San Diego County, it is 117 percent.
The three departments analyzed the number of alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes that occur from 5 p.m. Sunday through 4 a.m. the following day for the past five Super Bowl Sundays (2009 to 2013) compared to other Sundays during January and February.
“Drivers and passengers should be aware of the high crash risk from drinking and driving associated with Super Bowl Sunday,” said Robert Bouttier, Automobile Club of Southern California’s Chief Executive Officer. “We encourage everyone to make a plan — designate a sober driver ahead of time, contact a ride-sharing service or use a taxi or public transportation.”
So this year take precautionary measures when driving to and from your Super Bowl Sunday destination. An alcohol-related traffic accident could not only harm your life and the lives involves in the accident, but could also sufficiently increase your auto increase rates. In fact, depending on your blood alcohol content (BAC), your auto insurance company may drop you as a client due to your reckless driving.
