As football fans prepare for Super Bowl LIX, AAA Texas, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and Houston Police remind fans to have a plan to prevent alcohol and drug-impaired driving over this Super Bowl weekend. According to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 45% of all fatal crashes on Super Bowl Sunday in 2022 involved alcohol. Here in Texas, on average, 17 people lost their lives in DWI crashes on each Super Bowl weekend (Friday to Monday) from 2019 to 2023.
Nationwide, impaired driving fatalities have risen 33% since 2019, which underscores how critical it is for everyone to help tackle this public health crisis.
“Super Bowl Sunday is all about teamwork, both on and off the field,” said MADD CEO Stacey D. Stewart. “Planning a safe ride home is the ultimate game-winning play—it protects your community and ensures everyone makes it to the next game day. Whether it’s calling a rideshare, designating a sober driver, or taking public transportation, the best play you can make is one that saves lives.”
In addition to alcohol and driving, cannabis and driving is also a major concern. Those who smoke, vape or consume edibles before getting behind the wheel are posing a risk to everyone on the road. In fact, next to alcohol, marijuana is the drug most found in drivers who have been involved in collisions.
Research shows drivers involved in crashes who also tested positive for THC were three to seven times more likely to be responsible for having caused the crash. Marijuana’s effects on driving abilities include:
- Difficulty maintaining attention
- Slower reaction times
- Inability to stay in traffic lanes
- Difficulty judging distances
- Slower decision-making
- Reduced peripheral/side vision
- Reduced coordination
“Our message to drivers is drive sober or game over,” said AAA Texas Corporate Communications Manager Doug Shupe. “A DWI collision as a result of consuming alcohol or cannabis could forever change your life or someone else’s life, leave you with a lifetime full of guilt, prevent you from getting the job you want, and cost you a lot of money. Your entire life could be negatively impacted by making the wrong decision to drive when you are impaired.”
A first-time DWI conviction in Texas could cost a driver $20,190 in court, arrest and DMV fines, fees and penalties, alcohol education classes, attorney’s fees, and additional insurance costs. Even worse than financial penalties though, is the human toll DWI crashes take.
Brenda Sanchez-Martinez knows the pain of losing someone to DWI. On September 3, 2021, she was on her way home and stopped at a red light at State Highway 249 and Breen Road in Northwest Houston when an intoxicated driver going 20 miles per hour above the posted speed limit, crossed into oncoming lanes and slammed into Brenda’s vehicle. Her husband who was sitting in the passenger seat was pronounced dead at the scene.
"I started screaming for him. He was laying, looking at me. But I knew he was already gone," said Sanchez-Martinez.
Brenda was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries from the crash. She now shares her story to prevent similar tragedies from happening to other families.
“I urge everyone celebrating the Super Bowl this weekend to consider the serious consequences of not planning ahead. Please take the necessary steps to prevent impaired driving and spare others from the pain and loss that my family has endured,” she said.
AAA Texas, MADD and Houston Police offer the following tips to ensure safe roads this Super Bowl weekend.
Party Hosts:
·Ask guests to designate a sober driver in advance.
·Keep phone numbers for ride services handy.
·Take car keys from partygoers as they arrive and don’t let them drive impaired.
·Encourage guests to pace themselves. Serve food and non-alcoholic drinks and water. Many mocktail recipes, including those featuring team colors, can be found online.
·Do not serve alcohol or cannabis to anyone under age 21. It is illegal.
·Allow guests to stay overnight, if possible.
Super Bowl Fans and Partygoers:
·Designate a sober driver or safe ride home before attending a Super Bowl party.
·Make sure your designated driver is sober. If he or she decides to drink, call a sober friend or family member for a ride home. Or, if possible, stay where you are for the night.
·Never ride as a passenger in a car driven by someone who has been consuming marijuana or drinking alcohol – even after just one drink.
·If you’re under 21, do not consume alcohol or marijuana. It’s against the law.
Designated Drivers:
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Take your role as designated driver seriously. Refrain from any alcoholic beverages or drugs.
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Always buckle up and require passengers to do the same.
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If someone you know has been drinking or using marijuana, take their keys and help them get home safely.
·If you encounter an impaired driver on the road, keep a safe distance and ask a passenger to call 911 (or pull over to a safe location to make the call yourself).