Going out to watch the Super Bowl this weekend? Make sure you have a SaferRide

Cool commercials, beer and 7-layer bean dip seem to be synonymous with watching the Super Bowl. As Game Day gets closer, it's the "beer" part we're concerned with.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving takes a life every 51 minutes in America. And, in 2012 at least, the agency noted that 40 percent of all crash fatalities on Super Bowl Sunday were connected to drunk driving.

Yikes!

But rather than being a statistic this Sunday, you have a few options if you're going out to watch the game. In bigger cities, public transportation is your best bet. But even if you live in suburbia, you can 1) designate a sober driver or 2) download the SaferRide app from NHTSA.

Available in both Google Playand iTunes, this app is simple to use with three available options:

• Get a taxi: Pulls up a list of taxi services in your area, and allows you to make the call directly from the app.
• Call a friend: Calls a pre-programmed contact.
• Where am I? Brings up a map of your current location.

Google Play users give the app an overall rating of 4.3 stars, stating that it's "well laid out" and "simple to use."

Depending on where you live, apps like Uber or Hailo might also be an option to catch a ride. But be aware that some of these apps charge premium fares during high traffic times - like after the Super Bowl.

Not sure what effects alcohol can have on a person? Check out this fact sheet pulled together by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It's interesting to note that just two drinks have predictable effects on driving, including a decline in visual function and the lessened ability to perform two tasks at the same time. It only goes downhill from there.

So, whether you go with SaferRide or a safer ride, get your game plan together before you leave home this Sunday.

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