Law enforcement, NFL urge designating drivers for Super Bowl weekend

Once again, thousands of Oregonians join millions across the country planning to gather and watch America’s most popular sporting event, the Super Bowl, Sunday.

 Joining those who are making their plans, law enforcement and traffic safety partners are also planning and urging everyone not to let drunk driving ruin your plans.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with support from the National Football League and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management, have joined forces with state and local highway safety and law enforcement officials to spread an important safety message about designating a sober driver on Super Bowl Sunday – Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

Oregon State Police , Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, Oregon Association Chiefs of Police and ODOT urge fans to join their team by not making critical mistakes that affect you and others on Oregon roads.

"Avoid the penalties by choosing a sober designated driver before the drinking starts or handing off your keys so that you and others on our road can safely arrive home," said Captain Ted Phillips, director of the OSP Patrol Services Division.

According to NHTSA, Super Bowl Sunday has become one of the nation’s most dangerous days on the road because of impaired driving. Forty-eight (48) percent of fatalities nationwide on Super Bowl Sunday involve a driver or motorcycle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or higher. In addition in 2010, alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes was almost twice as high during the weekend (31 percent) than during weekdays (16 percent) and four times higher at night (37 percent) than during the day (9 percent).

Last year, three people died on Oregon roads during Super Bowl weekend. Over the last six years on Super Bowl weekend, 14 people have died in traffic crashes on Oregon roads.

The following statistics reflect DUII arrests by OSP troopers and traffic fatalities reported between 12:01 a.m., Saturday, through 5:59 a.m., Monday, during the previous six Super Bowl weekends:

• 2012 Super Bowl weekend: three traffic fatalities and OSP troopers reported 38 DUII arrests

• 2011 Super Bowl weekend: two traffic fatalities and OSP troopers reported 59 DUII arrests

• 2010 Super Bowl weekend: zero traffic fatalities and OSP troopers reported 58 DUII arrests

• 2009 Super Bowl weekend: two traffic fatalities and OSP troopers reported 50 DUII arrests

• 2008 Super Bowl weekend: five traffic fatalities and OSP troopers reported 23 DUII arrests

• 2007 Super Bowl weekend: two traffic fatalities and OSP troopers reported 42 DUII arrests

By Daily Astorian

Source: The Daily Astorian