New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state’s STOP-DWI initiative was back again in full force during Super Bowl weekend.
The governor announced that New York State Police was again teaming with local law enforcement agencies during Super Bowl weekend to crack down on impaired and reckless drivers. While results of the 2020 initiative were not yet tallied, 139 people were arrested for impaired driving and 7,891 tickets were issued during the same campaign last year.
The STOP-DWI campaign was expected to include underage drinking enforcement, increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints to “deter, identify, and arrest impaired drivers” between Saturday, Feb. 1 and Monday, Feb. 3.
“The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events of the entire year, and I am encouraging New Yorkers to enjoy it responsibly,” Cuomo said. “It is simple: If you are drinking, do not get behind the wheel. New York has zero-tolerance for drunk driving, and our police will be aggressively enforcing the law this weekend to keep New Yorkers safe.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,511 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2018. NHTSA reports that 30 people die each day in alcohol-related vehicle crashes.
“State Troopers [were] highly visible throughout the weekend, cracking down on impaired drivers and other reckless driving behaviors,” State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett said. “If your celebrations include alcohol, make a game plan for a safe ride home. Don’t jeopardize your life or the lives of others by driving impaired.”
A previous 9-year-long study conducted by the Automobile Club of Southern California found that drunken driving-related crashes resulting in injuries were 41% higher on Super Bowl Sunday than on other Sundays in January or February. New Year’s Eve was the only night that was worse, with a 44% increase. Christmas was ranked the third most dangerous major holiday. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over one third of all U.S. traffic deaths during the 2016 Super Bowl involved drunk drivers.