Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk

2008 Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday is a dangerous time to be on the road. According to NHTSA, during the 2006 Super Bowl weekend, 130 people died in crashes involving impaired drivers with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of .08 or higher.

That's why State Highway Safety Offices are partnering with communities across the country to spread the word that Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk. Activities include increased saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints, news releases, paid media, creative marketing materials and more. A sampling of state activities is provided below.

Alaska—Alaska is using a paid media ad to discourage drinking and driving during both the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl. The ad, called “DUI Duh!,”is running Jan. 12 - Feb. 3 on KTBY Fox & KTVA CBS, including one spot during the actual Super Bowl and one adjacent to the game.
Arizona—On Feb. 3, Glendale, Arizona will host Super Bowl XLII. To protect the public from irresponsible drunk drivers, DUI Task Forces will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturations patrols around the state, as well as an undercover underage consumption enforcement during the popular FBR Open golf tournament. The Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) has teamed up with the HERO Campaign and Coors Light for an essay contest to award a selected designated driver two tickets to the game. GOHS is also working with TEAM Coalition to sponsor a safety booth at the NFL Experience to distribute DUI-related materials to fans visiting the interactive playground in the Super Bowl parking lot.
California—In California, county DUI task forces will be mounting saturation patrols surrounding game time.
Connecticut—Five municipalities in Connecticut (East Haddam, New Britain, Old Lyme, Seymour and Wallingford) are planning to conduct DUI activities in conjunction with the Super Bowl. Additionally, the Connecticut Department of Transportation is distributing a fact sheet to media outlets across the state.
Delaware—Delaware will have a checkpoint and several DUI saturation patrols as well as radio ads encouraging the use of designated drivers. State employees' paychecks will also have a designated driver message on them.
Florida—During Super Bowl Week, numerous law enforcement agencies in Florida will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols in an effort to reduce impaired driving crashes.
Illinois—The Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety is coordinating efforts with statewide media vendors to conduct an on-air traffic safety trivia contest during the week of Jan. 28. On-air personalities will use traffic safety talking points and questions to stimulate thought and interest among its audience. Winners will receive a leather, full-size, Wilson football. The trivia contests will take place at 22 radio stations during heavy drive times and will be supported by interviews with key IDOT officials.
Indiana—Indiana's DUI task forces throughout the state will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols over the Super Bowl weekend. Indiana will also put out a press release insisting that fans refrain from impaired driving and if they spot a suspected impaired driver on the roadways that they call 911.
Louisiana—Increased alcohol consumption on Super Bowl Sunday and the weekend before Mardi Gras have made these widely-celebrated events dangerous for Louisiana motorists. In 2008, the two events coincide, presenting drivers and law enforcement with a unique challenge. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC) will issue a statewide news release identifying crash statistics from previous years and raising awareness about additional enforcement patrols. Over 50 contracted enforcement agencies will be conducting overtime DWI enforcement Feb. 1 - 9. Paid media ads will also be running during those dates.
Maryland—Several precincts and departments throughout Maryland are planning Super Bowl activities. Many county and local police departments are scheduling DUI saturation patrols throughout the weekend. Some are conducting media outreach, including press release, appearances on local talk shows, newspaper articles and distribution of posters to local stores and sports bars.
Massachusetts—The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), through its Highway Safety Division, will provide federal highway safety funding to the Massachusetts State Police to conduct extra traffic enforcement in the form of sobriety checkpoints and related saturation patrols during Super Bowl Weekend. EOPSS and the State Police will use earned media to highlight this additional enforcement. As the home state of the New England Patriots, Massachusetts is committed to reminding the public of the need for safe and sober driving as well as the dangers and legal consequences of underage drinking. More information is available at www.mass.gov/highwaysafety.
Minnesota—"Punt, Pass, Hand-off or Fumble Your Keys to a Sober Driver" is Minnesota's Super Bowl theme. Minnesota is issuing public service announcements targeted to young males to radio stations across the state. Law enforcement agencies and Safe Community partners were sent template news releases, fact sheets and letters to the editor to customize and issue to local media. A statewide safety message will be sent to media prior to Super Bowl Sunday.
Missouri—Missouri is planning to send a statewide press release reaching out to those at Super Bowl celebrations, encouraging them to drive sober, buckle up and Arrive Alive. The state also has ongoing contracts with state and local law enforcement agencies that will be working DWI and Hazardous Moving Violation activities during this timeframe.
New Hampshire—Super Bowl activities include an impaired driving spot that will be aired on 25-30 radio stations from Jan. 28 through Feb. 3 as part of New Hampshire's media broadcast campaign for 2008.
New Mexico—New Mexico will air English and Spanish version television and radio spots Feb. 3 - 24, including a 30 second spot during the New Mexico broadcast of the Super Bowl. The featured ad, entitled "Mi Hijito," shows the stress and heartbreak a drunk driver can have on a family. It's designed to reach young males 18-34, as these drivers accounted for more 52 percent of New Mexico's alcohol-involved crashes in 2006. The ad features a Hispanic family, with a grandmother using both English and Spanish phrases to warn her grandson to be careful when going out partying with friends.
North Carolina—North Carolina is distributing a press release encouraging citizens to celebrate smart, with tips for hosting and attending a Super Bowl party.
North Dakota—From Jan. 28 to Feb. 4, the North Dakota Department of Transportation Office of Traffic Safety will conduct a statewide media buy, consisting of network and cable television pre-game coverage, using the Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. message. Safe Communities programs throughout the state will conduct various activities including earned media (editorials, appearances on local news shows, etc.) and distribution of public information materials. These activities will be completed in cooperation with community partners, including bars and taxi services.
Ohio—The Ohio Department of Public Safety will send out a statewide press release covering the combined efforts of all of Public Safety's Divisions as well as the efforts of the Governor's Highway Safety Office grantees and OVI (Operating a Vehicle under the Influence) Task Forces. The press release will highlight planned enforcement hours, including sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols, and encourage planning ahead and designating a sober driver. Ohio is also making sure all grantees and partners have this information they need to localize the state press release.
Tennessee—The Governor's Highway Safety Office (GHSO) is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Safety and the Titans NFL team to plan a "Super Bowl Sober Driver" press event for Friday, February 1, in Nashville. The event will include a simulations of a responsible party and a live broadcast of an irresponsible party. GHSO law enforcement liaisons will guide law enforcement officers in conducting a wet lab with six participants.
Vermont—Two DUI teams of five officers each, called "DUI Bandits," will be patrolling in population centers on Super Bowl Sunday night. A press conference is scheduled Feb. 1 at an EMS station to announce this as the first step of a year-long DWI task force.
Virginia—Virginia State Police and local law enforcement will be canvassing the state with a combination of saturation patrols as well as dedicated checkpoints.

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