This weekend, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) are huddling up to urge Super Bowl fans not to drop the ball on finding a sober ride home.  

According to the Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network, there were 71 crashes and four fatalities statewide related to alcohol-impaired driving during Super Bowl weekend last year. In 2016, there were 67 crashes and two fatalities. 

“Our state and local partners will increase enforcement to remove drunk drivers from the roadways,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “Officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and high visibility enforcement. We ask that all Tennesseans plan ahead and make safe driving choices.” 

This year, the THP developed a new public service announcement (PSA) to remind football fans the most important part of a party checklist is to designate a sober driver. Click here to view the PSA:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=fltzS6kayi4   

“In 2017, state troopers removed 116 impaired drivers from state roadways during Super Bowl weekend,” said THP Colonel Tracy Trott. “Drunk driving is not a game. If you fumble and get behind the wheel, you risk losing your life or the life of another. Be a team player. Always find a sober ride home.” 

For more information, please contact Arriale Tabson at arriale.tabson@tn.gov. 

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) is a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security advocating for traffic safety. The THSO works in tandem with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to implement statewide programs addressing occupant protection, impaired driving, speed enforcement, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and crash data collection and analysis. Programs administered by the THSO are 100 percent federally funded. The THSO’s mission is to effectively develop, implement, and evaluate these programs. To learn more, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.