Over the last five Super Bowl Sundays in Minnesota, 2002-2006, there were five traffic deaths - three of which were alcohol-related - and 538 injuries. The injury tally includes 59 from 2006, of which nearly a third were alcohol-related - representing a significant spike in alcohol-related injury crashes over previous Super Bowls. The last five Super Bowl Sundays also resulted in 985 DWI arrests.
Public Safety officials warn armchair quarterbacks and party hosts that many Minnesota law enforcement agencies will conduct stepped-up patrols to flag and penalize impaired drivers.
"We will arrest impaired drivers for illegal use of keys," said Lt. Mark Peterson, a 6-foot 2-inch 200 pound 20-year veteran of the State Patrol out of Winona State. "A DWI is a serious crime that can put your life and others in very poor field position for a very long time."
Super Safety Tips
- Huddle with guests before the game to determine the designated driver or the plan for a safe and sober ride home.
- If you plan on partying on Super Bowl Sunday, punt, pass, hand-off or fumble your keys to a sober driver.
- Party hosts are responsible for the safety of their guests. If a guest has too much to drink, bench them - make them sleep on the couch.
- Use a real "super bowl." Next to the nachos, pretzels and hot wings, put a bowl for everyone to toss their keys into - the "Super Bowl of Super Bowls."
- Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages.
- You could be held liable and prosecuted in a civil - and potentially criminal - case if someone you served alcohol to (in a private home/setting) ends up in an impaired driving crash.
- Minnesota cops will blitz blitzed drivers and penalize them for illegal use of keys.
