The agency says 'fans don't let fans drive drunk.'
It's a big weekend for many people, especially for Baltimore Ravens fans, as the NFL franchise is playing in the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49'ers in the Super Bowl.
It's also a time for celebration. "You have people gathering all the time, whether it's at a party at someone's home, or a sports bar. But what we want to do is to encourage people to designate a sober driver if they're going to attend a party where they'll be drinking alcohol," says Motor Vehicle Administration spokesman Buel Young.
The MVA has a message, which is "fans don't let fans drive drunk," a revision of the familiar "friends don't let friends drive drunk.
The agency says ways to not drink and drive include designating a sober driver if you're planning to consume alcoho. At the party, avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast; pace yourself, and east plenty of food, take breaks and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
If you don't have a designated driver, have someone call a taxi, a friend or a family member to come and get you.
Young says never let anyone drive home drunk, eveni if it means taking away the keys.
MVA says a lot of crashes which occur on Super Bowl Sunday involve alcohol, even more than on New Year's Day or St. Patrick's Day. "Here in Maryland, crashes during the Super Bowl are 50% more likely to involve someone who is impaired. And it comes from consumption of alcohol at the party," Young says.
If you're hosting a Super Bowl party, MVA reminds you that could be held liable and possibly face prosecution if someone to whom you served alcohol ends up in a drunken driving crash. Young says one suggestion is to close the bar by the end of the third quarter of the game. "Offer them desserts and coffee because the game's going to wrapping up and you're going to want to be wrapping up your festivities as well," Young says.
Finally, Young don't provide alcohol to those who are under the legal drinking age of 21. "It's illegal, and you will be held liable for damages if you're serving alcohol whose under 21, and they get involved in a crash," he says.
