The Shadow
RICHMOND, Va. (VR) – The pinnacle of the pro football season is always a time of celebration, with many people gathering at sports bars or home watch parties to take in the big game. But gameday is consistently one of the deadliest days for drunk driving in the United States, with approximately 45% of all traffic fatalities on game day involving alcohol-impaired drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to preliminary numbers from Virginia DMV, 245 people were killed across the state in the 2025 calendar year in 6,146 alcohol related crashes. Another 4,776 people were injured. Nearly 1/3 of all traffic fatalities in Virginia last year were in alcohol related crashes.
“Drinking and driving is not a game – it’s a deadly combination and a crime,” said Morgan Dean, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic in Virginia. “It can be a very dangerous day on the roads, especially after the game, but with the right pre-game plan and a team effort between football fans, designated drivers and party hosts, we can reduce the incidence and dangers of impaired driving.”
Overall, impaired driving fatalities have risen 33% across America since 2019, and someone is killed or injured in a drunk driving crash every 85 seconds, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). To fight this trend, AAA and MADD have announced a multi-faceted collaboration aimed at reducing impaired driving fatalities by 20% by 2030. AAA and MADD encourage football fans to plan safe rides home this Sunday for the big game during one of the most dangerous times of year on the roads.
Defense Against Drunk Drivers
Drivers will see more law enforcement on the road on game day, with officers on the lookout and with zero tolerance for impaired drivers. The goal is to save lives. Nationally, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher, except in Utah, where the limit is .05 g/dL.
“Always drive 100% sober,” Morgan said. “For some, even one alcoholic beverage could be one too many. And remember that buzzed driving is drunk driving. Don’t risk it.”
There are a couple more tips for taking a defensive stand against impaired driving:
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If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement immediately and report the driver’s location.
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If you have a friend who is about to drink and drive, take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.
The Steep Costs of Impaired Driving
In addition to the dangerous and possibly deadly effects of impaired driving, the poor decision to get behind the wheel while impaired can negatively impact your life in other ways.
