THP Reminds Fans to Make the Right Play Super Bowl Sunday
Friday, January 30, 2009 | 06:09am
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Department of Safety is teaming up with law enforcement agencies across the state to urge drivers to act responsibly this Super Bowl Sunday and designate a sober driver if game plans include consuming alcohol. All weekend long, Tennessee State Troopers will be conducting driver license and sobriety checkpoints across the state. The 2009 Super Bowl Enforcement period begins at 6:00 p.m., Friday January 30, and ends at 11:59 p.m., Sunday, February 1.
“Designating a sober driver should be at the top of everyone’s Super Bowl party list,” said Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Fans don’t let fans drive drunk, and I urge everyone to call the right play for the big game and designate a sober driver, the real hero of the game, before the Super Bowl begins.”
Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s biggest national sporting events, as friends and families gather to watch the big game. Yet, it has also become one of the nation’s most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving. In 2008, the Super Bowl enforcement period ran from Friday, February 1, at 6:00 p.m., through Sunday, February 3, at 11:59 p.m. During that time, there were 13 fatal crashes resulting in 14 people being killed on Tennessee roadways. Four of the victims died in crashes that happened on Sunday, and five of the 13 crashes, or 38 percent, involved alcohol. State Troopers also arrested 43 people for driving under the influence during that weekend.
“Troopers will be out in force again this year looking for impaired drivers,” stated Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Mike Walker. “Keep this in mind. It is hard to watch the game sitting in jail, and that’s where you will go if you choose to drink and drive.”
The Department of Safety offers the following tips for Super Bowl party hosts and guests.
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party:
- Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in an impaired-driving crash.
- Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.
- Serve lots of food and include lots of non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
- Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.
- Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.
If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching at a sports bar or restaurant:
- Designate your sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys.
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself—eat enough food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
- If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.
- Use your community’s Sober Rides program in Davidson County at 862-Ride or your local Sober Ride.
- Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while impaired. Remember, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.
- Always buckle up – it’s still your best defense against other impaired drivers.
Below is a list of the sobriety and driver license checkpoints scheduled for the upcoming weekend.
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
DRIVER LICENSE & SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS
DIST. 1 KNOXVILLE
Friday, January 30
DL CHECKPOINT CAMPBELL COUNTY STATE ROUTE 63 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT UNION COUNTY STATE ROUTE 31 EVENING Saturday, January 31 DL CHECKPOINT BLOUNT COUNTY STATE ROUTE 33 AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT CAMPBELL COUNTY STATE ROUTE 116 MORNING
Sunday, February 1
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT ANDERSON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 61 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT BLOUNT COUNTY WILLIAM BLOUNT DRIVE AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT KNOX COUNTY NORRIS FREEWAY EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT SEVIER COUNTY STATE ROUTE 339 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT SEVIER COUNTY STATE ROUTE 416 EVENING
DIST. 2 CHATTANOOGA
Sunday, February 1
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HAMILTON COUNTY LINDBERG STREET EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MCMINN COUNTY HIGHWAY 30 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SEQUATCHIE COUNTY HIGHWAY 127 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT BRADLEY COUNTY BATES PIKE EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT FRANKLIN COUNTY HIGHWAY 130 EVENING
DIST. 3 NASHVIILE
Sunday, February 1 DL CHECKPOINT ROBERTSON COUNTY OLD GREENBRIER MORNING DIST. 4 MEMPHIS
Sunday, February 1 SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT DYER COUNTY STATE ROUTE 78 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT FAYETTE COUNTY STATE ROUTE 76 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HARDEMAN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 18 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT SHELBY COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 70 AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT TIPTON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 179 EVENING
DIST. 5 FALL BRANCH
Friday, January 30
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GREENE COUNTY BLUE SPRING PARKWAY EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HAMBLEN COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 11-E EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT CARTER COUNTY OLD BRISTOL HIGHWAY EVENING DL CHECKPOINT COCKE COUNTY BIG CREEK ROAD AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT JEFFERSON COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 25-E AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT JOHNSON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 167 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT SULLIVAN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 93 EVENING
Saturday, January 31 DL CHECKPOINT CLAIBORNE COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 25-E EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HAMBLEN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 160 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HANCOCK COUNTY STATE ROUTE 33 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT JEFFERSON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 92 AFTERNOON
Sunday, February 1
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GREENE COUNTY STATE ROUTE 172 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GREENE COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 11-E EVENING DIST. 6 COOKEVILLE
Saturation patrols will be conducted in Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, Dekalb,
Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Trousdale,
Van Buren, Warren, and White counties.
DIST. 7 LAWRENCEBURG
Sunday, February 1 DL CHECKPOINT MOORE COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 41A EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT PERRY COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 412 WEST EVENING
DIST. 8 JACKSON Sunday, February 1
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GIBSON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 77 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HENDERSON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 22 EVENING DL CHECKPOINT HARDIN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 203 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HENDERSON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 22 AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT HENRY COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 79 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT MADISON COUNTY RIVERSIDE DRIVE EVENING
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.tennessee.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.