From College Football to the NFL, the football season is an exciting period for fans. Whether you’re in the stadium, tailgating, or enjoying the game at a sports bar or home with friends, the social options are endless. No matter how much you enjoy football in Orlando, make sure you have a safe way to get home after drinking, especially considering the concerning amount of drunk driving accidents.
Here are some reasons for this increase and the importance of making responsible decisions during football season.
What Causes Drinking During Game Day Celebrations?
- Tailgating Traditions: Pre-game festivities are a great way to bond with fellow fans. They often involve alcohol consumption
- Pregame Parties: Football fans like to gather in bars, restaurants, or at their buddies’ residences. A higher chance of drunk driving exists because of the availability of alcohol.
- Highly Charged Atmosphere: Football games are intense. Emotions affect choices when players compete in important matches and win or lose.
- After The Game: Football fans may drink alcohol after games, which can make them drive poorly and make bad decisions.
- Late-Night Kickoffs: Football games often feature evening kickoffs, extending the post-game celebrations into the late hours. This time frame increases the likelihood of encounters with impaired drivers.
Law Enforcement Challenges
- Traffic: Game days bring an influx of traffic as fans flock to stadiums, leading to congested roadways. Navigating through this traffic requires maximum attention and sobriety.
- Limited Resources: Law enforcement may face challenges in monitoring and controlling the increased number of drivers on game days.
- Enforcement Focus: During events, people pay less attention to stopping drunk driving compared to regular days. This is because the focus is on crowd control and stadium security.
Stay Safe When Driving
- Designated Drivers (DD): Don’t drink and drive! Encourage the use of designated drivers or ride-sharing services to ensure a safe journey home.
- Far Right Lane: To lower the risk of car accidents, drive in the far right lane when returning home after a game. This will help you avoid drunk or reckless drivers.
- Avoid Busy Routes: Avoid busy roads to reduce drunk driving crashes; choose less crowded routes for safety and to avoid drunk drivers.
- Rotate Designated Drivers: Share the responsibility of being the designated driver with your group when attending football games regularly. This ensures everyone contributes to a safe transportation plan.
Public Transportation
- Lynx Bus: This is convenient and affordable public transportation in Orlando.
- SunRail: This is a reliable commuter rail system for travel in the Greater Orlando area.
- LYMMO BRT: This is an efficient downtown navigation without personal vehicles.
- Ride-sharing: Uber and Lyft are fast and accessible ride-sharing services in Orlando.
- Group Transportation: Use of larger vehicles or shuttles for coordinated group transportation.
- Meeting Points: Choose meeting spots for groups to make it easier to take public transport or share rides for a safe trip back.
Responsible Hosting
- Non-Alcoholic Drinks: Offer non-alcoholic beverage options for guests at your gathering.
- Alcohol Consumption: Keep an eye on guests’ alcohol consumption to ensure responsible drinking.
- Plenty of Food: Serve a large amount of food to accompany the event.
- Legal Drinking Age: Strictly adhere to serving alcoholic drinks only to individuals aged 21 or older.
- Alcohol Time Frame: Stop serving alcohol at the beginning of the game or by the end of the first quarter.
How Can Steinger, Greene & Feiner Help?
Steinger, Greene & Feiner support individuals facing the heightened risks of drunk driving accidents in Orlando during the lively football season.
The law firm specializes in assisting people who have suffered personal injuries in accidents caused by drunk drivers. Their experienced accident attorneys are ready to support victims in seeking justice. Call us today for a free consultation.
About the Author
Michael Steinger
MICHAEL S. STEINGER, founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner, believes in representing real people, not big businesses. Since the firm’s creation in 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has never represented an insurance company or large corporation, and he vows to keep this promise. Over the course of his career, Michael has handled thousands of Florida accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for his clients and earning him membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving laws protecting injury victims and their families, Michael is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Bar Associations, and sits on the Auto Insurance Committee of the Florida Justice Association.
Michael Steinger
MICHAEL S. STEINGER, founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner, believes in representing real people, not big businesses. Since the firm’s creation in 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has never represented an insurance company or large corporation, and he vows to keep this promise. Over the course of his career, Michael has handled thousands of Florida accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for his clients and earning him membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving laws protecting injury victims and their families, Michael is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Bar Associations, and sits on the Auto Insurance Committee of the Florida Justice Association.