Don’t Fumble Safety This Super Bowl Sunday: Auto Club, MADD, and Law Enforcement Urge Fans to Plan Ahead, Prevent Impaired Driving, and Save Lives

Are you ready for Super Bowl LX? Whether you're cheering for the New England Patriots or the Seattle Seahawks, safety should be your top priority.

The Auto Club, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) are urging fans to plan ahead this Super Bowl Sunday to help prevent impaired driving and save lives.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 34 people in the United States die in alcohol-impaired crashes every day. That's one person every 42 minutes. The latest NHTSA data shows 12,429 people died nationwide in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2023.

In California, alcohol-impaired driving continues to be one of the leading causes of fatal and serious injury crashes. The most recent report from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) shows 1,355 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the state in 2023.

Historically, Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most dangerous days on the road due to alcohol-related crashes.

Millions of people are expected to gather at home, sports bars, or watch parties for Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Alcohol consumption often increases during major sporting events - like the Super Bowl - raising the risk of drunk driving crashes.

California Highway Patrol crash report data shows during the last five Super Bowl weekends (Friday to Monday) 53 people died and 157 others were seriously injured in DUI crashes in California. These deaths and injuries were all preventable.

"Super Bowl Sunday is all about teamwork for both players and fans," said MADD California Regional Executive Director Patricia Rillera. "Planning a safe ride home is the ultimate game-winning play. Whether you use a rideshare, designate a sober driver, or take public transportation, the most important decision fans can make is to never drive impaired."

Just like drunk driving, driving under the influence of drugs is illegal and dangerous. This includes impairment from prescription medications, illicit drugs, over-the-counter medications, or marijuana - whether medical or recreational. Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs can impair your ability to drive by slowing coordination, judgment, and reaction times.

According to the Auto Club, a first-time DUI conviction in California can cost more than $22,000, including court and arrest fees, DMV fines, alcohol education classes, attorney's fees, and higher insurance costs. While the legal and financial consequences are serious, the most devastating impact of impaired driving is the potential loss of life.

Each year, millions of families across the country grieve the loss of a loved one due to crashes involving impaired drivers. That includes the Montalvo family of Corona, California.

While riding his bike with friends, 21-year-old Benjamin Montalvo was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver who was repeatedly texting while behind the wheel. The crash happened on June 11, 2020. The driver left the scene of the crash and didn't turn herself in to the police until the following day. She was later sentenced to nine years in prison.

Benjamin was the youngest of Kellie and Eddie Montalvo's four sons. His older brothers gave him the nickname "BeanDip." He loved the outdoors, like camping, hiking, and snowboarding. He also cherished time with family and friends. The Montalvo family continues sharing their heartbreaking story to raise awareness and prevent others from experiencing the tragedy that took Benjamin's life.

"We are not alone in our grief," said Kellie and Eddie Montalvo. "Sadly, there are too many BeanDips out there. Too many victims, and too many forever broken families. No parent should bury their child, no friend should witness what Benjamin's friends saw that night, no brother should carry a casket. May we never become complacent about the numbers. You see every statistic represents a human being who was loved and is so greatly missed."

AAA and MADD are committed to curbing impaired driving - not just on Super Bowl Sunday but all year long. Together, they've launched a nationwide initiative to reduce impaired-driving fatalities 20% by 2030.

Over the course of five years, AAA and MADD will promote driver safety through education, advocacy, enforcement, and research, while working together to drive meaningful policy change. As part of this effort, both organizations recommend several policies for all U.S. states to help prevent impaired driving and save lives.

Some of the key policy recommendations include:

• All-Offender Ignition Interlocks: States should require all drunk driving offenders to install an ignition interlock device before driving or returning to an unrestricted license.
• Operational Sobriety Checkpoints: States should permit and regularly conduct sobriety checkpoints that are carefully controlled and supervised.
• Alcohol Open Container Laws: States should enact open container laws that meet federal recommendations and prohibit the possession or consumption of open alcoholic beverages in the passenger compartment of a vehicle.
• Lower BAC Limits: States should lower the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers from 0.08% to 0.05%.
• Electronic Warrants: States should authorize electronic warrants to speed up the collection of physical evidence in driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases when a warrant is required.

AAA and MADD believe implementing these policies nationwide could significantly reduce fatalities while saving states substantial costs associated with impaired-driving crashes. With Super Bowl Sunday approaching, the Auto Club reminds the public that preventing impaired driving is everyone's responsibility because anyone's life could be at stake when someone gets behind the wheel while impaired.

"Impaired driving is a preventable crisis, and we can all be part of the solution," said Auto Club Senior Public Affairs Specialist Kandace Redd. "Remember, Super Bowl Sunday should be about enjoying the game, not risking lives. If you plan to drink or use cannabis, make sure you have a safe way home before you start celebrating. That means designating a sober, non-drinking driver, using a rideshare, or arranging another safe ride. Driving impaired puts lives at risk - including your own - and it's never worth the consequences."

The Auto Club, MADD, and CHP offer the following tips to help ensure safe roads this Super Bowl weekend:

Party Hosts:

• Ask guests to designate a sober driver in advance.
• Keep phone numbers for ride services handy.
• Take car keys from guests who may be impaired and do not let them drive.
• Encourage guests to pace themselves by serving food, non-alcoholic drinks, and water. Mocktail recipes, including team-colored options, can be found online.
• Do not serve alcohol or cannabis to anyone under 21; it is illegal.
• Allow guests to stay overnight if possible.

Super Bowl Fans and Partygoers:

• Designate a sober driver or safe ride home before attending a Super Bowl party.
• Make sure your designated driver is sober. If they decide to drink, call a sober friend or family member for a ride, or stay where you are for the night.
• Never ride with someone who has consumed alcohol or marijuana, even after just one drink.
• If you are under 21, do not consume alcohol or marijuana; it is against the law.

Designated Drivers:

• Take your role seriously and refrain from any alcohol or drugs.
• Always buckle up and ensure passengers do the same.
• If someone you know has been drinking or using marijuana, take their keys and help them get home safely.
• If you encounter an impaired driver, maintain a safe distance and have a passenger call 911 or pull over safely to make the call yourself.