HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A DUI crash or arrest would be a disastrous end to any Super Bowl celebration, PennDOT and State Police officials today reminded motorists.

On Super Bowl Sunday, local and state police will be on the lookout for motorists driving under the influence. PennDOT's preliminary data points to 246 crashes during the 2010 Super Bowl, 18 of which were alcohol-related. Two people died in these crashes.

"Keeping impaired drivers off our roads is a priority for the state police," said acting Commissioner Frank Noonan. "During the Super Bowl weekend, troopers will be looking for motorists who exhibit erratic driving behavior. Our goal is a weekend without alcohol-related crashes, injuries or fatalities. Enjoy the game, but please don't put yourself and others at risk by drinking and driving."

PennDOT and State Police offer the following tips to safely celebrate on Super Bowl Sunday:

• Plan ahead. Before consuming any alcohol, designate a sober driver and give that person your keys;
• If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member for a safe ride home; and
• Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement.

"Many Pennsylvanians are excited to watch the Steelers play in the Super Bowl, but that's no reason to roll the dice and drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol," said acting PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch, P.E. "No celebration or game is worth the price of someone's life."

PennDOT invests about $4.2 million annually into DUI enforcement, which includes funding for approximately 900 sobriety checkpoints around the state.

Media contacts:

Erin Waters, PennDOT; 717-783-8800

Jack J. Lewis, State Police; 717-783-5556

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department