According to the Maryland Highway Safety Office, Maryland crash data shows that impaired driving was a factor in roughly one third of all roadway deaths in 2013. Police officers in Maryland made more than 23,000 arrests for DUI last year through checkpoints and DUI patrols, all of which could have been avoided with the use of a designated driver.
HCPD and the Maryland Highway Safety Office offer the following tips to celebrate safely this Super Bowl weekend.
If you're attending a Super Bowl party:
- Designate a sober driver, or plan another way to get home safely before the party begins.
- If you don't have a sober driver, call a friend, call a cab, or stay for the night.
- Never let friends drive if they've had too much to drink.
If you're hosting a party:
- Encourage your guests to designate a sober driver in advance.
- Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages.
- Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy or arrange for alternate transportation.
- Take the keys away from guests who shouldn't be driving.
Officers will be out in increased numbers before and after the game looking for drivers exhibiting signs of impairment. The Department also reminds drivers and passengers to always wear a seatbelt; a properly worn seatbelt is the best defense against injury in any crash.
More tips for a safe Super Bowl weekend can be found on Twitter, @HCPDNews and Facebook.com/HowardCountyPoliceDepartment.
For a printable copy of the above News Release, please click here.
HC DrugFree is proud to partner with the Howard County Police Department and Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration's Highway Safety Office to keep Howard County safe throughout the year.
