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Trenton
- Highway traffic safety and State Police
officials are reminding motorists to stay
safe and sober behind the wheel, as they head
out to Super Bowl parties and celebrations
this weekend.
According to Division of Highway Traffic Safety
Director Pam Fischer, under no circumstances
should an individual drive if they have been
drinking alcohol.
“Many
fans will be attending parties at friends’
homes, bars and local restaurants,”
Fischer said. “If your Super Bowl celebration
includes alcohol, plan ahead and make sure
you have a designated driver. Just taking
that simple action will ensure you won’t
be putting your life, or the lives of other
motorists, in danger.”
Officials
also noted that those individuals walking
to and from a local Super Bowl celebration
should exercise caution.
In
2008, 594 individuals lost their lives in
traffic crashes in New Jersey, and 137 of
those killed were pedestrians. Last year on
Super Bowl Sunday, a total of three individuals,
including two pedestrians, lost their lives
in traffic crashes. So far this year, 19 of
the 44 fatalities occurring through January
27 involved pedestrians.
“While
we are encouraged by the great reduction in
New Jersey traffic fatalities in the past
two years, we cannot rest on our laurels,”
said Lieutenant Colonel Juan Mattos of the
New Jersey State Police. “We will be
pushing hard this year to drive down the unacceptable
numbers of pedestrian and bicycle rider deaths
through education and enforcement campaigns.”
“Motorists
must be alert to pedestrians throughout the
year, and in particular on nights when celebrations
are taking place and people may be drinking
alcohol,” Director Fischer added. “If
you’re intoxicated, the safest way to
get home is to take a cab or have a sober
friend or family member drive you to your
doorstep.”
For individuals planning on attending a Super
Bowl party:
- Designate
a sober driver before the party begins and
give that person your car keys. Motorists
are asked throughout the year to subscribe
to the pledge of the Ensign John R. Elliott
HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers: drive
sober, be a designated driver and don’t
let your friends drive drunk. Under the
effort, local businesses and community groups,
law enforcement agencies, and schools work
together to keep drunk drivers off the road.
Started in New Jersey by the Elliott family
following the tragic death of their son,
John, in a head-on collision with a drunk
driver, the campaign has become a national
model for preventing drunk driving.
- Consider
using a taxi cab or car service, or ask
a sober family member or friend to come
and get you, or spend the night where you
are.
- Report
impaired drivers in New Jersey by dialing
#77. You’ll be asked to provide the
location and a brief description of the
vehicle.
- Buckle-up,
every ride.
For
individuals hosting a Super Bowl Party:
- Make
sure there’s ample food and non-alcoholic
beverages available.
- Stop
serving alcohol at the beginning of the
third quarter of the game. Instead, offer
guests coffee and dessert.
- Be
sure that all guests have designated their
drivers in advance, or help to arrange ride-sharing
with sober drivers.
- Have
the phone number of a local cab company
available, and always take the keys away
from anyone who may be thinking of driving
after drinking.
Additional
information on drunk driving enforcement and
pedestrian safety, as well as general traffic
safety information, is available on the Division
of Highway Traffic Safety’s web site,
at www.njsaferoads.com
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