The New York Giants are on their way to the “big game” after pulling out a win in an overtime, nail-biter against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend. This once-a-year football game is a popular occasion for friends and family to get together and drink alcohol while cheering on their favorite team. Unfortunately, this can also lead some people to consume more alcohol than they can safely handle.

According to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), binge drinking, which often occurs during social events, “is a bigger problem than previously thought.”  And, the CDC reports, binge drinkers are taking to the highways putting themselves and others at risk.  The report indicates that “most alcohol-impaired drivers binge drink.”

Our New York car accident attorneys have reported numerous times about the efforts our state law enforcement has taken to crackdown on drunk drivers.  We encourage all sports fans in the Rochester, Syracuse, Elmira and Watertown areas to drink responsibly and not drink and drive.

Unfortunately, while the New York State Police works tirelessly to keep our NY highways safe by setting up sobriety checkpoints, DWI, underage drinking, and speed saturation patrols and preemptive checks of establishments dispensing alcoholic beverages, the efforts are falling short.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 2010 State Motor Vehicle Fatalities statistics, while alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities declined by 4.9 percent nationwide in 2010, New York saw a 14% increase.  In 2009, 364, or 27%, of the 1,158 traffic fatalities were caused by drivers who were impaired by drugs or alcohol.  In 2010, the numbers increased to 364 alcohol-related fatalities of the 1,200 total traffic fatalities.

Now that the holiday drive sober campaign is over, the New York State Police will be participating in the NHTSA’s latest impaired driving prevention campaign specifically targeting football fans.  The campaign runs until Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 6, 2012. Called “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk,” the campaign pairs the NHTSA with the National Football League and asks that “everyone who plans to drink during the Super Bowl, please call the right play and pass your keys to a designated driver.”

The NHTSA offers the following tips to Super Bowl party hosts to ensure their guests get home safely:

• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers before kick-off or help arrange ride-sharing with sober drivers.
• Find unique ways to reward the designated drivers at your party:
  • Give them a great spot to watch the game.
  • Whatever non-alcoholic beverage they are drinking, make sure their glass is always full.
  • Let them have the first pass at the buffet table.
  • Make sure their cars are easy to access when it is time to start driving people home.
• Serve plenty of food.
• Offer a variety of non-alcoholic choices like soft drinks, juice, and water.
• Serve one drink at a time and serve measured drinks.
• Only serve alcohol to guests over 21 years of age.

Our personal injury attorneys will be cheering for the New York Giants, and look forward to a good game.  We ask that anyone else who cheers for the team takes the appropriate steps to see that you and your loved ones and friends get home safely.  Please designate a sober driver for those guests who have had too much to drink.

Contact Our NY Accident Lawyers Today

Experience counts. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident in New York that was caused by another driver, contact the Law Offices of Scott C. Gottlieb & Associates  today for a review of your case. There is no cost to you for the initial call.

Call our 24-hour answering service at (800) 825-5229 or submit our online contact form.  We have offices in Rochester, Elmira, Syracuse, Watertown or online at www.1800talklaw.com.