CLEVELAND — Whether they’re tuning in for the game, the commercials, or the halftime show -- chances are a lot of people will be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday. They’ll maybe even celebrate with a drink or two.
But Ohio State Highway Patrol is warning partygoers to make plans ahead of time for how they’ll get home.
State troopers will be out in full force over the next several hours, stepping up patrols from Sunday afternoon and into Monday morning.
They’re also counting on fans to take care of themselves and hold their friends accountable.
During last year's Super Bowl, OSHP made 62 OVI arrests in a 24-hour period. There were also six deadly crashes -- killing seven people. Of those, two crashes and three deaths were OVI-related.
This year, troopers are reminding people to celebrate responsibly by reminding them with the phrase “Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk.”
Part of that means making a game plan for the big game. Partygoers should come up with some alternative options for getting home – like a rideshare service or calling a taxi.
State troopers also suggest designating a "sober driver" before going to a watch party.
"That's another thing you know that we encourage the folks to do is once you've identified that sober driver, treat them like the MVP that they are and make sure that they have you know, alternative nonalcoholic drink options and that you're feeding and taking care of them just as much so they enjoy themselves as you are,” Sgt. Ray Santiago, with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, said.
People out and about Sunday night should dial #677 on their cell phone to report drunk drivers and drug activity.
Jade Jarvis is a reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
