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Trenton
- Traffic safety and alcohol industry officials,
law enforcement and trauma doctors today
reminded New Jerseyans who plan to attend
Super Bowl parties to celebrate responsibly,
never drink and drive, and always have a
plan for a designated driver.
According to Acting Attorney General Paula
T. Dow, there is no excuse for an individual
to get behind the wheel if they have been
drinking alcohol.
“Many
people will be attending parties at private
residences or going to local bars or restaurants
to watch the Super Bowl,” Acting Attorney
General Dow said. “If you plan to
drink alcohol, make sure you’ve taken
the necessary steps before leaving home
to ensure a safe return trip. That starts
with designating a driver who will not be
drinking. By planning ahead, you can protect
yourself, your family and other motorists
from tragedy on the road.”
According
to Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director
Pam Fischer, a 2009 Fairleigh Dickinson
University PublicMind Poll on driver behaviors
in New Jersey, conducted in partnership
with the Division, indicated that one in
five drivers said they have consumed alcohol
and then driven, up 6 percent from the previous
year. In addition, one in five drivers believe
they can have two drinks and safely drive,
while one in 10 say they can have three
or more drinks and still be okay to get
behind the wheel.
“Despite
our gains in combating drunk driving, we
still have too many individuals who believe
that after a few drinks, they’re safe
to drive,” Fischer said. “Approximately
28 percent of all fatal crashes in New Jersey
last year involved alcohol, while nationally
alcohol was a factor in 32 percent of fatal
motor vehicle crashes. Even one drink can
alter your judgment and reaction time behind
the wheel, putting not only yourself, but
everyone on the road, in danger.”
State
Police will be teaming with local and county
law enforcement agencies to strictly enforce
New Jersey’s motor vehicle laws. Particular
attention will be paid to enforcing drinking
and driving statutes.
“All-star
athletes and armchair quarterbacks alike,
no one is immune to the dangers of driving
while intoxicated," said Colonel Rick
Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey
State Police.
"The
most insidious part of intoxication is the
slowing down of a person's reactions well
before they become obviously drunk. That
lag time in reacting to danger can turn
a near miss into a medevac ride to the trauma
center, or worse-a trip to the morgue,"
added Colonel Fuentes.
"Injuries
from drunk driving are clearly preventable.
Some of the worst cases that we see are
of those that involve drunk driving. These
cases are even more tragic, because they
didn't have to happen,” said David
Livingston, MD, director, the New Jersey
Trauma Center at UMDNJ-University Hospital.
Division
of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Director
Jerry Fischer added that under the state’s
alcoholic beverage control laws, liquor
licensees cannot serve or sell alcohol to
any person actually or apparently intoxicated
in a licensed premises.
“On
Super Bowl Sunday, and throughout the year,
liquor licensees must remain cognizant to
the amount of alcohol patrons consume,”
ABC Director Fischer said. “By remaining
vigilant, bars and restaurants can not only
ensure responsible service to patrons, but
also help in our mutual efforts to prevent
drunk driving and the potentially serious
consequences that can result from the over-consumption
of alcohol.”
According
to Diane Weiss, Executive Director of the
New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association,
bar, tavern and restaurant patrons are encouraged
to celebrate responsibly on Super Bowl Sunday.
“The
association supports the Ensign John R.
Elliott HERO campaign, which asks patrons
to designate a driver if they plan to drink
alcohol,” Weiss said. “We also
encourage our members to participate in
server training programs that provide them
with detailed information on serving patrons
in a responsible manner. By doing this,
we can ensure that everyone has a safe and
enjoyable Super Bowl Sunday.”
Officials
also reminded motorists to be alert for
pedestrians, in particular on nights when
celebrations are taking place. If an individual
has been drinking alcohol, the safest way
to get home is to take a cab or have a sober
friend or family member drive him or her
to their 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 HERO Campaign: 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,
everyone, 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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