Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP) have partnered to remind drivers to practice safe and sober driving on Super Bowl Sunday.
Many people forget their beloved pets are waiting for them at home when considering whether or not to get behind the wheel impaired. Pets trust their humans to care for them each day and part of that responsibility is coming home safely. Whether celebrating the big game, or any other time drinking becomes part of the celebration, remember to plan ahead with a designated driver.
"Dangerous behaviors on the road, such as impaired driving, not only have the potential to take a person away from their human family, but also their animal family members as well," said Gerry Delon, HARP Executive Director. "Remember, your pets are relying on you to come home to them every night, so please make responsible choices before getting behind the wheel."
For those who decide to gather this year to celebrate the Super Bowl, PennDOT advises the following safety tips:
- Prepare your snacks ahead of time so there is no need to leave.
- Have plenty of water available, especially if alcohol is present.
- Consider making mocktails as an alternative to alcoholic beverages.
- Never mix your medications with alcohol.
Additionally, drivers are reminded alcohol consumption is not the only path leading to a DUI arrest. Law enforcement also work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication. Drug impairment is just as dangerous on the road, which speaks to the importance of knowing how prescribed medications can affect your ability to safely operate a vehicle.
Both alcohol and drugs, legal and illegal, can impair a person's judgement, balance, vision, and reaction time, as well as impact others on the road.
According to preliminary PennDOT data from 2022, there were 348 crashes statewide from 6:00 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday to 6:00 a.m. the following day. Those crashes resulted in one fatality.
Together, the organizations are asking all 'party animals' to celebrate responsibly and make good decisions this Sunday. Whether human, furry, feather or scaled, ALL of your family members are relying on you to come home safely.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.
PennDOT's media center offers resources for safety organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders. Social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as seat belts, impaired driving and distracted driving can be found online in PennDOT's Media Center.
For regional updates, follow PennDOT on Twitter and join the Greater Pittsburgh Area PennDOT Facebook group.
MEDIA CONTACT: Yasmeen Manyisha, ymanyisha@pa.gov
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