In this year’s Super Bowl showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, decision-making will be critical. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) reminds drivers to make the right gametime decisions. Choose to drive sober and let collisions occur on the field, not the road.

“Make safety your top priority by planning ahead this Super Bowl Sunday,” said MDOT Executive Director Brad White. “Drive sober or make the necessary arrangements to ensure you have a designated driver. Don’t chance the risks and penalties of drunk driving.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates 13,524 people lost their lives due to drunk-driving accidents in 2022. To put this into perspective, about 37 people die every day because of drivers under the influence. That comes out to one life every 39 minutes according to NHTSA. Every time someone takes the wheel under the influence, from either drugs or alcohol, they run the risk of putting others and their own lives in danger.

The penalties for driving while drunk are never worth it. Impaired drivers face serious jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates and an extensive list of other charges, including attorney fees, court costs and lost wages due to time away from employment. The average DUI costs approximately $10,000.

Take a page from MDOT’s playbook and reach your destination safely:

• Keep your head in the game by driving sober.
• Rely on your teammates and designate a driver. Don’t get a DUI.
• Selflessness wins championships. It’s selfish to drive drunk.
• Hold your teammates accountable. Don’t let your peers drive intoxicated.
• Don’t let the referees dictate the outcome. Take responsibility by driving sober.
• Eyes on the road. Stick to the game plan.

“Take the initiative in your travel planning,” said White. “It takes all of us to keep safety as the top priority on Mississippi highways.”