Drunk driving during the Super Bowl

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department said they will be looking for drunk drivers after the Super Bowl.

Although there were no additional deputies working Sunday tonight, drunk driving is something they will be looking for. One of the biggest concerns is the weather getting worse.

Sgt. Phillip Smith with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department said his biggest concern is when people are leaving after the Super Bowl and have been drinking.

“We are proactive, especially on evenings when we think alcohol is going to be a factor, but the conditions are definitely a concern right now with the weather getting worse right now,” said Smith.

In the year 2012, Missouri ranked eighth in the nation for most fatal drunk driving accidents.

Officials compare Super Bowl Sunday to New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day, as far as drunk driving is concerned. Smith said it is difficult alone to drive on snowy roads and even worse when alcohol comes into play.

Smith recommends calling a cab or a relative for a ride if someone has too much to drink. His second recommendation is to stay put until the roads are clear. He said drinking and drinking is a bad idea regardless of the road conditions.

The snow started picking up at 6 on Sunday evening. Between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., there were eight accidents in Columbia.