January 28, 2015 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Super Bowl is one of the most celebrated sporting events in the world. As the most anticipated sporting event of the year, it is an opportunity for family, friends, and fans to gather together, celebrate, and root for their favorite team. However, the celebration can quickly turn to tragedy when partygoers exercise poor judgment and fail to designate a non-drinking driver.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) joins with the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Football League, and TEAM (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) for the Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk campaign, which encourages people to make plans ahead of time that will prevent them from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking.

“Drunk driving is an act that is completely preventable,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “All it takes is a little bit of planning to prevent a tragedy. We want Californians to remember that drinking and getting behind the wheel is a choice. If you choose to drink, do not drive, it is that simple.”

According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, alcohol was involved in nearly 225 collisions on Super Bowl Sunday 2012 (the most recent year that finalized collision data is available). Out of the 225 collisions, eight resulted in death and 79 resulted in injuries throughout California.

The CHP will work with law enforcement agencies throughout the state to discourage the public from driving under the influence (DUI), and to try to remove those drivers who are impaired before they injure or kill themselves or others. During the same Super Bowl Sunday in 2012, 422 people were arrested on California’s roadways by the CHP for DUI.

The public is also encouraged to be a team player by calling 9-1-1 if they suspect a drunk driver. Callers should be prepared to provide the vehicle’s description, license plate number, location and direction of travel.