Don't Risk a Super Bowl DWI

Consumer Reports
Updated

Super Bowl Sunday is a major national party day, complete with snacks, beer, and big-screen TV action. But don't let the annual gridiron celebration turn into a personal tragedy by driving after drinking alcohol.

Although the number of people who died because they were driving while intoxicated (DWI) dropped 49 percent between 1982 and 2013, according to the latest data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Super Bowl Sunday is still a dangerous day.

Take a look at some statistics from California, for example. In that state, DWI-related injuries and fatalities on Super Bowl Sundays—from 2011 to 2015—were 56 percent higher on average than on the three Sundays before and the three Sundays after game day, according to data from the California Highway Patrol.

You don’t need to be involved in an accident to run into trouble. If you are pulled over by the police and found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher, you could have high fines to pay. Even if that percentage comes in lower, you can still be arrested if the officer sees evidence of impairment, such as swerving while driving or slurred speech.

A first-time conviction for DWI can cost you $5,000 to $15,000, according to Nolo Press, a publisher of self-help legal books. That estimate includes the cost of penalties, legal fees, loss of income and increased car insurance premiums.

Stay Safe

If you're attending a Super Bowl party, keep these tips in mind:

  • Don't drink alcohol if you have to drive after the game.

  • If you do imbibe, have a sober designated driver take you home.

  • Find out, just in case you need transportation, if your community offers a sober ride program.

  • If you drive yourself home, be sure to buckle up and drive defensively in case a drunk driver comes your way.

If you're the party host:

  • Request that all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance.

  • Monitor how much your guests drink and stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game.

  • Take the car keys away from drunk people. 

  • Check your state law and home insurance coverage. Home policies typically offer liquor liability coverage limited to $100,000 to $300,000, but you might want more.



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