Be a team player: Police urge motorists to drive sober this Super Bowl Sunday

Get ahead of the Big Game this weekend and make sure your drive to or from any super festivities reaches the end zone penalty-free.

Super Bowl LIX is Feb. 9, and Hawai‘i Police Department and U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are teaming up to remind drivers: Fans don’t let fans drive drunk.

Police also will conduct enhanced traffic enforcement this weekend to ensure island roads remain safe.

“Super Bowl is a special day each year for our community to come together to celebrate, but we need responsible drivers on our roads,” said Torey Keltner, Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section program manager.

Make sure your Super Sunday playbook includes a designated driver to get you home safely if your call is to celebrate by tossing back a few.

If you’re the host team, have plenty of food and non-alcoholic drink options on your roster for the visitors, especially the designated drivers.

“If you are planning to be away from home during Super Bowl LIX, make a game plan to ensure you don’t find yourself without a designated driver if you need one,” said Keltner. “If you’re hosting a party, make sure you take care of your designated drivers.”

Designated drivers will be the day’s most valuable players by sticking to their routes and keeping their commitment under center.

There were 82 DUI arrests made this year by Feb. 2, with 12 during the week of Jan. 27-Feb. 2. Half of the drivers arrested that week were involved in traffic crashes; none of them were younger than 21 years old.

The 82 DUI arrests made through Feb. 2 is 6.8% fewer than the 88 made during the same amount of time last year. Of those 82 motorists arrested, 27 were involved in traffic crashes and 3 were younger than 21.

The Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and reports 78 so far this year, a decrease of 10.3% from the 87 reported by this time in 2024.

It’s also been a deadly and heartbreaking start to 2025 on Big Island roadways despite the decrease in major crashes.

There have been 6 traffic fatalities in just the first 6 weeks of the year, 3 of which happened during the past week. That’s already 2 more fatalities than the 4 reported within the first 6 weeks of 2024.

There have been no non-traffic fatalities (those that are not on a public highway) in 2025.

DUI roadblocks and patrols continue islandwide.

Here are some additional tips from Hawai’i Police Department and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration so you don’t become a part of those DUI stats.

Host a winning Super Bowl party

• Ask your guests to designate their sober drivers in advance.
• Remind drinking guests they have a long day ahead of them, and encourage them to pace themselves, eat food and drink plenty of water.
• Never serve alcohol to minors. The person who provided the alcohol can be liable for any damages, injuries or deaths caused by an underage driver who drinks and drives.

Be the designated driver MVP

• Commit to a sober day.
• Enjoy the food, company and non-alcoholic drinks if you will be at a party, bar or restaurant.
• Take the keys from someone you know who was drinking and tries to drive. Help them get home safely.
• Remember: You’re the day’s quarterback. Others are relying on you.