State police to conduct DUI patrols Sunday
In an effort to decrease drunken driving on Super Bowl Sunday, the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has asked 540 driving under the influence of alcohol checkpoint programs around the state to step up their DUI enforcement efforts. Locally, the state police will be conducting roving DUI patrols as the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts take to the field.
“With all the excitement of the Super Bowl, people may not realize just how much they’ve had to drink,” said Lt. John Rock, patrol commander for Troop B in Washington. “We urge people to play it safe by designating a sober driver before the game even begins.”
According to PennDOT statistics, there were 44 alcohol-related crashes on state roads during last year’s Super Bowl. Two people died in those crashes.
Rock warns that even one drink can be enough to impair judgment on the road.
PennDOT and the state police offer the following tips to safely enjoy this year’s Super Bowl:
– Plan ahead. Before consuming any alcohol, designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.
– If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member for a safe ride home.
– Use your community’s sober rides program.
n?Promptly report drunken drivers you see on the road to law enforcement. To report underage drinking, call 1-888-UNDER-21.
– Wear your seat belt.
PennDOT invests about $2.8 million annually into DUI enforcement, which includes funding for bout 540 sobriety checkpoints around the state.