Text out the invites, put out the snacks, and make sure your television is set to go. The New England patriots face off against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in Super Bowl LII.
This is Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s eighth Super Bowl and Justin Timberlake’s second. (Will his performance be as memorable as the infamous wardrobe malfunction?) Pop singer Pink will perform the national anthem and Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr. will perform “America the Beautiful.” They both have announced they’re routing for the Eagles.
It’s going to be an exciting game and amazing entertainment. What’s the best way to spoil the evening? A car crash. Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most dangerous times of the year to be driving.
Post-Super Bowl crashes spike by 46 percent
Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest drunk driving events of the year. A study that reviewed drunk driving stats from 27 Super Bowls found that collisions jumped by 46 percent in neutral states, those states without home teams in the game.
The study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, also found that 24 people were killed each year in auto crashes in the hours after the Super Bowl, compared to 17 on an average Sunday. 1,900 people were injured in accidents after the big game, compared to 1,300 on other Sundays.
Not surprisingly, researchers attributed the crash spike primarily to alcohol impairment. They also found a correlation between higher rates of accidents and routing for the losing team. They believe fans from the losing team are distracted by post-game what-ifs.
Even if you drive responsibly, others won’t.
Super Bowl big beer ads underline the party image
Super Bowl is well known for its commercials. To reach a television audience of 100 million, companies pay as much as $5 million for a 30-second commercial. Witty or heartwarming beer commercials are usually ranked amongst the most liked.
This year, Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois will air original, entertaining commercials. If the Eagles win, AB InBev that owns these brands has promised free beer for Philadelphia, hopefully along with free rides home.
These beer commercials just add to the party atmosphere.
How can you stay safe this Sunday?
You can throw a great Super Bowl party and keep your friends safe. Here are some tips:
- Don’t let your guests drive if they’ve had too much to drink.
- Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Stop serving alcohol in the third quarter.
- Have the number for a taxi service handy.
If you are meeting friends out to watch the game, here are ways to reduce your chances of wrecking:
- Avoid the roads after the game.
- Plan who will be the designated driver before you head out.
- Plan to take an Uber, Lyft, or taxi if you are going to drink.
Stay safe and enjoy the game. If you get hit by a drunk driver in Dallas-Fort Worth, Berenson Injury Law can help. Call my office for a free consultation to learn how I can protect your rights after an automobile accident.