It’s considered one of the most dangerous days of the year to drive in the United States: Super Bowl Sunday.
Indeed, as the single biggest one-day sporting event in the United States, with its party atmosphere that encourages drinking, Super Bowl Sunday has earned its place as one of the most dangerous days to be out on California’s roads and highways, according to the Auto Club’s Chief Executive Officer Robert Bouttier.
Motorists who travel on Super Bowl Sunday are more likely to be in a crash with a drunk driver than any other Sunday, the Auto Club of Southern California reports.
According to five years of crash data analyzed by the Auto Club, California motorists had a 77 percent higher chance of being involved in an alcohol-related crash with injuries or death if they were driving on Super Bowl Sunday
San Diego County drivers had the highest risk, 117 percent higher than a normal Sunday drive. In Los Angeles County, drivers had a 57 percent higher risk.
“Drivers and passengers should be aware of the high crash risk from drinking and driving associated with Super Bowl Sunday,” said Bouttier. “We encourage everyone to make a plan — designate a sober driver ahead of time, contact a ride-sharing service or use a taxi or public transportation. If those aren’t possible, the Auto Club will be offering its Tipsy Tow service.”
There are many options for drivers who want to drink on Super Bowl Sunday including designating a driver, calling a taxi, taking public transportation, staying home or walking to a neighbor’s house or calling the Auto Club’s Tipsy Tow service.
Despite options to avoid driving drunk, however, roughly 10 percent of motorists admit they thought they were above the legal limit when they got behind the wheel and drove, according to a recent AAA report.
If the threat of injury or death isn’t enough to prevent you from getting behind the wheel while drunk, keep in mind the cost of a first offense misdemeanor DUI conviction in California is estimated at $15,649 for penalties, fines, restitution, legal fees and increased insurance costs.
For drivers under 21 years old, a first-time offense is higher at $21,500.
Super Bowl Sunday Crash Data Report — Auto Club
- 294 fatal and injury crashes compared to 166 for comparable Sundays or 26 more each year.
- 77 fatal and injury crashes in Los Angeles compared to 49 on comparable Sundays
- 40 fatal and injury crashes versus 18 on comparable Sundays
Need a Tipsy Tow: Call 1-800-400-4AAA for a free tow home of up to seven miles.
For more information about what to do after a traffic accident, contact Johnson Attorneys Group at 800-235-6801.
Johnson Attorneys Group is a sponsor of this year’s Walk Like MADD Orange County. Last year the personal injury law firm donated and raised $3,330 to support the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.
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