This Sunday is the Super Bowl, a day that is, at least symbolically, a national holiday. Many people will gather with friends and family to watch the big game. Here in Colorado, this takes on a very special feel because the Denver Broncos are in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years. Bronco fans don’t like to think about the last Super Bowl, and there could be a reason other than the final score.
DUIs in the state skyrocketed on Super Bowl Sunday two years ago. The DUI rate was 191 percent higher than the rest of the country. Given this tremendous leap in the DUI rate, officials are worried about what may happen this Sunday, and they are warning people to act responsibly.
Another piece of data to consider about the Super Bowl and drunk driving: in 2012, 43 percent of the traffic fatalities on Super Bowl Sunday were related to drinking and driving. On any other day of the year, the average is 31 percent.
We want Denver residents to be safe this weekend. So please, if you are going to a viewing party, be responsible and refrain from drinking and driving. Plan a designated driver or have a plan to get home by some other safe means.
Otherwise, you risk a drunk driving violation. A DUI, as we have written about before, can cause the individual a lot of problems. If you are accused, you will need an attorney to help you through the process.
Source: Denver Business Journal, “One big worry for Super Bowl Sunday in Denver: drunk drivers,” Ben Miller, Jan. 29, 2016