On February 7, Santa Clara will host Super Bowl 50 – one of the most watched televised events of the year.  Millions of viewers throughout the country will celebrate with family and friends by watching the game, either at a party or at a bar.  Game-day socializing may include alcohol and Sheriff Gary Hofmann and the Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff is urging football fans to make the smart play and designate a sober driver to get home safely.

In Maryland, more than 170 people lose their lives every year as a result of impaired driving, with a third of all statewide crashes and 34 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities involving an impaired driver.  Nationwide, nearly 10,000 people were killed by impaired drivers in 2014, accounting for 31 percent of all vehicle crash fatalities.

“There is nothing SUPER about jail.  Drive Sober!” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn.

Even if an impaired driver isn’t involved in a personal injury crash, potential penalties are severe.  Consequences may include: tens of thousands of dollars in fines and legal costs; lost income from time off work; driver’s license suspension; classes and administrative fees; and being required to use an ignition interlock device to start the vehicle.

“This is not something we take lightly,” stated Sheriff Gary Hofmann. “More than 23,000 arrests are made each year in Maryland for impaired driving-related offenses and the threat of arrest is very real.  Designate a sober driver and for those who plan to drive, enjoy the game with food and non-alcoholic drinks.”

Being a sober, designated driver is the smart play every day, not just on Super Bowl Sunday.