If your Super Bowl game plan involves alcohol, plan ahead for a safe ride home.
Law enforcement agencies across Kent and King County will deploy additional officers this Super Bowl weekend to keep impaired drivers off the roadways. Starting Friday, officers and troopers from King County’s Target Zero Teams will be stepping up DUI enforcement and patrols, according to a Kent Police media release.
Traffic crashes kill and seriously injure thousands of people in Washington State each year, and impaired driving is a leading cause of these crashes. To keep roads safe the Target Zero Teams patrol areas where a high number of collisions and reports of suspected impaired drivers occur.
In addition to the extra enforcement on the roads, the King County Target Zero Task Force is educating the “12th Man” on impaired driving prevention in bars and restaurants. Washington State Liquor Control Board agents are distributing “Click to Ride” cards, which can be scanned with a smartphone to connect directly to taxi cab companies for a safe ride home.
Tips on scoring a touchdown on roads this Super Bowl:
If you are attending a party or watching at a sports bar or restaurant:
• Designate a sober driver before the party begins and leave your car keys at home.
• If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or just stay where you are.
• Never let a friend get behind the wheel of their vehicle if you think they are about to drive while impaired. Remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
• Always buckle up – it’s still your best defense against other impaired drivers.
If you are hosting a party:
• Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in an impaired-driving crash.
• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.
• Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.
For more information on Target Zero in Washington State, visit www.targetzero.com.
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