Weather you are a Patriots or Eagles fan be careful driving! This years Super Bowl certainly won’t disappoint with it’s array of commercials, parties and adorable puppies. But lets not forget that it is one of the deadliest days of the year for DUI crashes. It is never cool to Drink and Drive.  If you want to learn more about the perils of Drunk Driving take our online class  Here are 5 things you probably didn’t think about last year and hopefully will this year:

According to BACtrack, which makes smartphone-enabled breathalyzers to monitor blood alcohol content (BAC).  Users in 2014 recorded average BAC of .091 percent on Super Bowl Sunday. By comparison, on other big drinking days, BACtrack measured average levels of .094 percent on both New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and .09 percent on Cinco de Mayo.

.08 BAC percent is the legal limit for driving while intoxicated!  Signs of impairment can kick in at much lower levels. BACtrack reports that 43% of its customers purchased the device to avoid getting a DUI. Or they purchased to make sure they’re under the legal limit when they get behind the wheel.

According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2012, 21% of fatal car crashes nationwide involved drivers over the legal limit. Montana had the highest incidence of traffic deaths involving these drivers, at 34 percent. Utah had the lowest, 11 percent. NHTSA has a “designate a sober driver” campaign  for this year’s Super Bowl.

Last year, timed to the Super Bowl, MADD and the ride-sharing company Uber  issued a report that begins “nearly 300,000 people drive drunk every day,” and estimates that “every 52 minutes someone is killed in a drunk driving crash.” Tennessee Titans tight end Delainie Walker spoke at the press conference announcing the report. His aunt and uncle were killed by a drunk driver.  Sadly this happened after watching him play in the Super Bowl in 2013.

Given that Uber sponsored the research (though MADD endorses the results), it’s not too surprising that the number of drunk driving accidents has decreased in Uber markets. In California, where Uber debuted in 2012, drunk driving accidents declined by some 60 cases monthly across cities where Uber operates, compared to previous years.

The study also found that peak Uber usage coincided with peak drinking hours at bars across the nation. In Chicago,”a disproportionate number of weekend, late-night Uber requests come from businesses with liquor licenses. With 45.8 percent of rides requested from these locations coming during the peak drinking hours of 10PM and 3AM. That’s compared to 28.9 percent in off-peak times”.

So if you’re going out for Super Bowl Sunday please designate a Driver or call a cab! Drunk Driving is never worth it.  Stay tuned to this blog spot for more info and as always, Drive Safe!