Dover – The Dover Air Force Base (DAFB) Wing Safety Office and the Office of Highway Safety are hosting several interactive DUI activities on base during Safety Down Day on Friday Jan. 27th to show the airmen that drinking and driving just don’t mix.
Safety Down Day activities will have a football theme to support the NFL enforcement that is currently underway in Delaware. Airmen will get to try their skills at throwing a football at a target and riding a tricycle while wearing DUI Fatal Vision goggles. DUI Fatal Vision goggles use special lens technology that allows the wearer to experience a realistic simulation of impairment. They will also have the opportunity to try and drive the SIDNE- a go cart type vehicle, which simulates the effects of distraction and impairment from alcohol and other drugs on a motorist’s driving skills. Plus, Delaware State Police will showcase the seat belt convincer that demonstrates what happens to vehicle occupants when they don’t buckle up. Those who drink and drive are also less likely to buckle up.
Pepsi and the HERO campaign will also be on site to promote Designated Drivers and DUI education. The HERO campaign was launched by the Elliott family in August of 2000 in memory of their son’s tragic death at the hands of a drunken driver. Delaware adopted the HERO campaign in 2007 by then Lt. Governor John Carney.
Law enforcement officers statewide will conduct DUI enforcement on Super Bowl Sunday in the form of 38 saturation patrols and 1 checkpoint as follows:
Friday February 5th Wilmington – New Castle County DUI Task Force.
Those convicted of a first time DUI offense in Delaware can expect to lose their driver’s license for up to three months, attend an 8-week DUI treatment class and pay thousands of dollars in court, treatment, DMV, and lawyer’s fees. Subsequent DUI convictions include mandatory jail time and higher fines.
OHS offers the following tips to help you have a safe Super Bowl weekend. If you’re going out to a bar or party, designate a sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys. Once out, if you’ve been drinking alcohol, don’t even think about getting behind the wheel. Ask a sober friend for a ride home. Call a cab, friend or family member to come and get you, or stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober. Finally, remember, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. Take the keys and never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while impaired.
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party, serve lots of high protein food and be sure to include lots of non-alcoholic beverages. Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game – and begin serving coffee, water, and dessert. Be sure all of your guests designate their drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with sober drivers. Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.
For more information on any of the OHS campaigns visit www.ohs.delaware.gov and follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe and Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.