This Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7, there is bound to be socializing that may include drinking, prompting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the California Office of Traffic Safety and law enforcement officials statewide to urge football fans to make the decision to drink or drive.

The Super Bowl is America’s most watched national sporting event, and if you plan on drinking on Super Bowl Sunday, designate a sober driver to get you home safely.

“We would like to remind the public to plan ahead before they go to a Super Bowl party. If you plan on drinking on Super Bowl Sunday, designate a sober driver to get you home safely,” said Shirley Miller from the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station. “It’s a choice you make, you can either drive or you can drink. If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend or family member for a ride home.”

Watch out for your friends. Friends never let friends drive drunk. If you are hosting a Super Bowl festivity, you can take responsibility by having all of the partygoers give you their car keys upon arrival, and secure them in a safe spot. Then, when it is time for them to depart, you can make sure that they are in a condition to drive.

“One way to thank your designated driver is by tweeting us their name during Super Bowl 50, which will appear on NHTSA’s Wall of Fame,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Station in a news release, “and if you are the designated driver, be sure to tweet us your name during the big game to make NHTSA’s Wall of Fame too.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Traffic Services Detail will deploy additional officers on special DUI saturation patrols in West Hollywood, specifically to stop and arrest drivers showing signs of alcohol or drug impairment during and following the game.

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NHTSA’s Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk campaign encourages people to make plans ahead of time that will prevent them from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. Driving impaired could result in injury or death for you or others on the road.  

According to 2014 data, 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in the United States – 31 percent of all vehicle crash fatalities in the nation, with crashes spiking on the weekends. California’s 2014 data reveals that 882 individuals were killed in DUI crashes.

A driver is legally considered alcohol-impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. The use of drugs and other factors can lead to arrest or crashes at much lower alcohol levels. This Feb. 7, don’t become a tragic Super Bowl statistic – Fans Don’t Let fans Drive Drunk.

“Drunk Driving is completely preventable,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Captain Scott Johnson.  “All it takes is a little planning.  We want fans to remember that it’s a choice.  Drink or drive – but never do both. And please remember, if your decision is to drink; drink responsibly under any circumstance and designate a sober driver.”

Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems.  A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving, 14 percent, than did for alcohol, 7.3 percent. Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects.

For those who plan to drink, leave your keys at home. Designate a sober driver, whether it’s a friend, relative, taxi, ride share or public transportation. The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP (Designated Driver VIP) mobile app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users will be offered free incentives at each bar to celebrate their life saving role.

“The other concern is ‘driving safety’ on Super Bowl Sunday,” said Miller. “There will be more traffic than usual on the roads because people will be traveling to festivities at restaurants and friends’ houses.”

Although you may be sober behind the wheel, Sgt. Richard Cohen of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Traffic office urges drivers “to use extra caution when they are on the roads because there may be other drivers that are intoxicated.” You need to be alert when driving so that you will be able to react quickly to avoid being in an accident. Avoid distracted driving such as using your cell phone to make calls or sending  text messages. Let it be a fun day to remember, not a day to forget.

They can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen.

For those who plan to drive, refrain from any alcohol. Instead, enjoy the game with food and non-alcoholic drinks. Being a sober, designated driver is a key role on Super Bowl Sunday. You might just save a life.

These operations are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who reminds everyone to be alert and ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911’ if you see a dangerous driver immediately!

Ed. Note: Information courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Station