SPRINGFIELD – For the Super Bowl this Sunday, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and local law enforcement throughout the state are calling a timeout to spread two important safety messages – “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket.”
“Before the game begins, designate a driver or make other arrangements for a safe, sober ride so that you, your passengers and everyone on our roads can return home safely,” said Cynthia Watters, IDOT’s bureau chief of safety programs and engineering. “If you volunteered as a designated driver, refrain from drinking alcohol, using cannabis or sampling any other impairing substance. People are relying on you to make the game-winning drive.”
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Throughout Super Bowl weekend, state police and local law enforcement will have a visible presence to stop anyone caught driving impaired. Police also will ticket drivers and passengers who are not buckled up.
If you are attending a Super Bowl party:
• Designate a sober driver ahead of time or plan to use your community’s sober ride program, call a cab or use your favorite ride-sharing app.
• Don’t let friends and family members drive impaired. Help them get home safely.
• Wear your seat belt and make sure everyone in the vehicle does the same.
• Promptly report drunk drivers by calling 911.
• Remember, walking impaired can also be dangerous, so designate a sober friend to walk home with you.
If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party:
• Make sure all your guests have a sober ride.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages.
• Host your party just like they do at the stadium. Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter is perfect for serving coffee and dessert.
• Take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving impaired.
“Driving under the influence is the No. 1 cause of highway fatalities,” said ISP Director Brendan Kelly. “The Illinois State Police will be watching for drivers under the influence, throwing down penalty flags on violators, and ejecting dangerous drivers out of the game and right into the county jail.”
The Super Bowl enforcement campaign is made possible through federal highway safety funds administered by IDOT.
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