ARRIVE ALIVE: DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE
THIS SUPER BOWL WEEKEND

Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk on Super Bowl Sunday, February 3, 2019

NEW CITY, NY - - For many people, alcohol and Super Bowl celebrations go hand-in-hand, potentially making roads dangerous. Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, along with highway and local law enforcement officials, the Rockland County STOP-DWI Program and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), remind us that incidences of vehicle accidents and fatalities increase on Super Bowl weekend.

Drunk driving can be deadly and even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgement to make driving unsafe. The NHTSA awareness campaign, Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk, reminds all of us of the dangers of drinking and driving. "Drunk driving can result in serious crashes, injuries or death. We want to encourage people to turn over their keys to someone who is not impaired. If they don't have a sober designated driver to get them home safely, consider other ride options," said Dr. Ruppert.

In addition:

• If you will be drinking, plan on not driving. Plan your safe ride home before you start the party. Designate a sober driver ahead of time.
• If you drink, do not drive for any reason. Call a taxi, use a rideshare service, phone a sober friend or family member, use public transportation, etc. Download NHTSA's SaferRide app from Google Play or the iTunes Store which helps you identify your location.
• If someone you know has been drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel. Take their keys and help them arrange a sober ride home. If you're hosting a party where alcohol will be served, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement. Your actions could help save someone's life.

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem. New York State Police, County Sheriffs and municipal law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of alcohol related injuries and deaths.

You can help make a difference by Having a Plan! Download the STOP-DWI mobile app – "Have a Plan" and you will always be able to find a safe ride home http://www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp

In New York and in all states, drivers are considered alcohol-impaired if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher. Nationwide in 2017, there were 10,874 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drivers with BACs of .08 or higher; 68% of these were in crashes in which at least one driver had a BAC of .15% or higher.

It's not just drivers and passengers that are at risk for fatalities involving cars; walkers and bicyclists are also in danger if they do not take precautions. In Rockland County, the Town of Ramapo has the highest rates of pedestrian-traffic injuries and fatalities. In fact, it has been identified as one of the top 20 communities with the highest number of pedestrian crashes, as per the 2016 New York State (NYS) Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. Both pedestrians and drivers were found to be in violation of NYS Vehicle and Traffic Laws.

The Rockland County Department of Health, in keeping with its' "See! Be Seen!" initiative, works with the County's Department of Public Transportation and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee to educate the community in the Town of Ramapo on safety measures to take. This is a great opportunity to find out how to keep yourself and your family safe and get important traffic safety information for both pedestrians and drivers.

Leaders of local organizations, agencies, businesses, community and faith-based groups are encouraged to schedule a free, interactive, 45-minute presentation Arrive Alive: Walk Wise Drive Smart. Participants will be provided with information they can post, distribute, and share with clients, customers, family members, and others. To schedule a presentation, and for more information call the Health Department at (845) 364-2500 and visit http://bit.ly/2blhwdg.

For more information about Super Bowl driving safety visit the NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.gov/super-bowl-sunday-fans-dont-let-fans-drive-drunk