On Sunday, February 12th, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will battle it out for football supremacy in Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona. While some lucky fans will be rooting on their favorite team from the stadium’s seats, most Americans will be cheering from a local sports bar or a big game watch party. While these celebrations are sure to be a lot of fun, they also bring about an element of danger on roadways nationwide.

Super Bowl Sunday has become synonymous with alcohol consumption and, unsurprisingly, the day is frequently marked by a noticeable spike in drunk driving accidents. As a professional driver, you understand that even a small amount of alcohol can impact safe driving, however, other game day revelers may not recognize that critical driving-related skills and decision-making abilities are diminished long before they show physical signs of intoxication.

To help defend yourself from drunk drivers on game day and throughout the year:

• Buckle your seat belt. Properly using your seatbelt is your best defense against drunk drivers. If you are involved in an accident, wearing your seat belt will help you maintain vehicle control and prevent you from being ejected.

• Watch out for other motorists who exhibit the following tendencies as they may be signs that the driver is intoxicated:

  • Drifting in and out of traffic lanes

  • Straddling the center line

  • Making wide turns

  • Swerving dangerously close to the curb, other vehicles or objects

  • Driving after dark with headlights off

  • Tailgating

  • Driving at a very slow speed

  • Braking or accelerating erratically

  • Delayed response to traffic signals

  • Failing to signal or signaling inappropriately

• Give impaired drivers extra space. If you suspect that a driver is drunk, stay back, pull over to a safe and legal spot, and call local law enforcement with the description and location of the vehicle.

• Keep your guard up throughout the day. Super Bowl parties often start hours prior to kick-off and last beyond the end of the game, meaning that you can encounter an impaired driver at any time. Stay alert, slow down and add space to react to traffic around you. Of course, if you can avoid traveling on Super Bowl Sunday, do so; it’s best not to be out on roads that are likely to have an above average concentration of intoxicated drivers.

• Ride the right side. You can reduce the risk of being sideswiped or hit head-on by an impaired driver by driving slightly in the right side of your lane as oncoming vehicles approach.

• Use extra caution at intersections. Accidents involving drunk drivers often occur at intersections when they fail to obey stop signs or traffic signals. When approaching an intersection, slow down and keep your eyes moving ahead, left, right and left again. Also, watch out for pedestrians who may be impaired or walking distracted.

• Pay attention to your own condition. Make sure you are well rested before you get behind the wheel as fatigue slows your reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs judgment. When it comes to looking out for the possible erratic behavior of others, even a momentary lapse in attention could be disastrous.

Lastly, if your travel plans include the Phoenix metropolitan area, be aware that there will be numerous events and festivities throughout the week leading up to Super Bowl LVII. Also, the Big Game is expected to bring in more than 150,000 out-of-towners, many of whom may be driving on unfamiliar roadways. So, pre-plan your route, allow extra time to reach your destination, and avoid peak traffic periods, whenever possible, to eliminate unnecessary frustration. If you use a GPS device, make sure it is specifically designed for commercial motor vehicles and updated with the latest maps and software. Importantly, slow down and allow plenty of space around your vehicle to create more time and space to react to any possible dangers.

Owner Operator Direct provides top notch commercial trucking insurance to owner operators, whether operating with authority or as leased drivers. For a no-obligation quote, give us a ring at 800-499-1044 (Monday-Friday 9-5 pm ET) or answer some questions online and we'll email you one.