Sunday’s Not So Super for Area Motorists

Fans cheering their teams in the Super Bowl could lose more than a football game. Motorists on Super Sunday are more likely than usual to be injured or killed in accidents involving alcohol, according to a study by the Auto Club of Southern California.

“Lots of people will be having Super Bowl parties, and more will be getting on the road drunk,” club spokesman Jeffrey Spring said.

Tracking statistics for the last 10 years, the study found that the number of injuries and deaths in alcohol-related accidents averaged about 27% higher statewide on the day of the Super Bowl than on other Sundays in January and February. In Southern California, the percentage increases were higher, though the actual numbers were small.

The study did not compare the number of Super Bowl Sunday accidents to those on other major holidays.

A spokesman for the California Highway Patrol said the agency was not aware of any increased risk and did not plan to beef up its patrols this Sunday. But spokesman Joe Roque said, “Obviously, we’ll be more watchful.”

Among the Auto Club’s safety suggestions: Don’t drink and drive; if you host a party, don’t let anyone leave drunk; and call 911 if you observe erratic driving.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Be Super Careful

The number of traffic fatalities and injuries related to drunk driving tends to be higher on Super Bowl Sunday than on other Sundays in January and February. Number killed or injured, on average, 1988-98:

*--*

Super Sunday Other Sundays Statewide 221 174 Los Angeles County 74 56 Orange County 19 12 San Diego County 19 13

*--*

Source: Auto Club of Southern California

Los Angeles Times