Belichick and McVay have game plans, and so should you
Jan. 31, 2019
It’s no fun to sit at home by yourself and watch the Super Bowl. Much better to have a bunch of friends over or go out to a bar or a friend’s house to watch the Big Game. Some snacks, some drinks, some cheering and booing all make for a great day.
So don’t spoil it by getting a DWI or, worse, getting into a crash that causes injury or death to you or someone else. Preliminary numbers show that 170 people in Minnesota got DWIs over the 2018 Super Bowl weekend, and impairment was a factor in 119 injury crashes. There’s no need to repeat those statistics. Bill Belichick and Sean McVay both have game plans for the Super Bowl, and you should too. In particular, there are four things to keep in mind:
Plan for a safe ride — designate a sober driver; use a cab, alternative car service or public transportation; or stay at the location of the party.
Speak up — offer to be a designated driver or be available to pick up a loved one anytime, anywhere. If you see an impaired person about to get behind the wheel, get them a safe ride home. If the party is at your house, offer them your couch.
Buckle up — a seat belt is the best defense in any type of crash.
Report drunk driving — call 911 if you witness impaired driving behavior. Be prepared to provide location, license plate number and observed dangerous behavior.
And if it’s not enough just to do the right thing for safety’s sake, remember that there are consequences when you drink and drive. A DWI offense can result in loss of license, thousands of dollars in costs, and possible jail time. Repeat DWI offenders, as well as first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level, must use ignition interlock in order to regain legal driving privileges or face at least one year without a driver’s license. Offenders with three or more offenses are required to use interlock for three to six years, or they will never regain driving privileges.
Chances are you’re making lots of Super Bowl-related plans anyway: Who will bring the dip? Which sports bar should you go to? What non-alcoholic beverages should you serve? So while you’re at it, add sober rides to your plans. You’ll have a lot more fun knowing that you and your friends will get home safely after the Big Game.
