More Patrols On NJ Highways Amid Super Bowl Sunday: NJSP

NEW JERSEY — Super Bowl Sunday is a popular time for football fans to come together and cheer on their favorite teams with a night out or by attending a party. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding fans this year to avoid drinking and driving.

The NHTSA is teaming up with state and local highway traffic safety advocates to remind football enthusiasts that "Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk." New Jersey State Police will be adding more patrolling officers on the highways to prevent drinking and driving during and after Super Bowl LVI on Sunday.

According to New Jersey State Police Trooper Brandi Slota, 44 additional personnel have been scheduled to work a total 344 extra patrol hours throughout the Super Bowl period this coming Sunday.

Slota said these patrols will focus on drunk driving and aggressive driver enforcement.

In 2019, there were a total of 10,142 people killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in the U.S., according to the NHSTA.

Crash data shows that drunk driving crashes are especially common on Super Bowl Sunday.

The consequences of drunk driving can be fatal, but they can also be expensive. According to the NHSTA, drunk drivers can face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and many other unanticipated expenses — including attorney’s fees, court costs and lost wages due to time off from work. The average DUI costs approximately $10,000.

The NHSTA said people should also know their state's laws. In New Jersey, if a court of law finds someone guilty of refusing to take a breathalyzer test, the court can revoke one's driver's license for at least seven months and no more than 20 years.

The court can also fine the person of anywhere between $300 to $2,000 for refusing to take a breath test.

Here are some additional safety tips recommended by the NHSTA:

• It's illegal to drive drunk, so before heading out to a Super Bowl party, make game plan that includes a sober designated driver — someone that will not drink at all, and will safely drive you home.
• Make sure your designated driver is actually sober. If he or she decides to drink unexpectedly, call a sober ride.
• For those hosting a Super Bowl party, ask guests to designate their sober drivers in advance
• Encourage drinking guests to pace themselves, eat food, and drink plenty of water.
• Serve a selection of nonalcoholic drinks.
• Do not serve alcohol to minors.

For more information on the dangers of drunk driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.