By: Jeffrey B. Lapin
As we are about to start another Nebraska Husker football season Lapin Law Offices reminds everyone to be safe and cautious. Here are some tips to make sure you stay safe getting to and from Husker football games:
- Do Not Drink and Drive: Not only do you endanger yourself and others, it is against the law. Law enforcement, as part of the “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose” campaign, step up their efforts to catch drunk drivers on game days.
- Choose a Designated Driver: If you plan to enjoy the game at the home of friends or family with alcohol, it is important to choose a designated driver. Studies have shown that college football game days result in the highest number of alcohol related arrests (US National Library of Medicine: National Institutes of Health: “The association between alcohol-related arrests and college football game days” ). If a completely sober driver is not available, Lapin Law Offices urges everyone to take a cab or public transportation.
- Do Not Text and Drive: Choose a “Designated Texter” in the backseat who can text for everyone in the vehicle. The National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration (NHTSA) published a report that stated, “Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent – at 55 mph – of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.” (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving).
- Wear Your Seatbelt: A report from the NHTSA about seatbelt usage states, “Research has shown that lap/shoulder seat belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat occupants (age 5 and older) of passenger cars by 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent. For light-truck occupants, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 65 percent.” (National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration: Traffic Safety Facts 2009).
- Be Prepared for Heavy Traffic: There is a large amount of road and construction in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. While most of it is scheduled to be completed by August 31, 2012, there will still be a number of areas that will cause more congestion than normal on game day. You check the status of construction on Lincoln streets on the City of Lincoln’s website: City of Lincoln’s Street Closures and Project Information.
- Navigate One-Way Streets: Downtown Lincoln has a number of one-way streets that can be tricky to navigate, unless you are familiar with them. A map of downtown Lincoln, Nebraska is available: Downtown Lincoln Organization: Maps.
- Consider Public Transportation: To avoid having to deal with traffic, navigation and parking consider public transportation. The City of Lincoln offers the “Big Red Express” for easy transportation to downtown Lincoln on game days. While there is a small fee to use the service, it will help reduce traffic congestion and is usually cheaper than parking downtown. A list of pickup/drop-off sites is available: City of Lincoln’s “Big Red Express” Husker Football Shuttle.
- Pedestrians Need To Be Cautious: Pedestrians need to keep a lookout for vehicles. Do not assume because you have a “Walk” signal it is automatically safe to cross the street. When the streets are very congested a distracted or frustrated driver may not notice you. Also, do not text or be focused on your phone as you are walking. Just as with drivers, pedestrians can become distracted and get hurt. For more information about collisions involving pedestrians:NHTSA report: TRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS: 2010 Data: Pedestrians.
With these tips, Lapin Law Offices hopes that your Husker football game days will be fun, enjoyable and safe.
OTHER LAPIN LAW OFFICES’ POSTS
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts for 2010: Pedestrians
Drivers: Beware of Deer
Texting Doubles a Driver’s Reaction Time According To New Study
Alarming Statistics Regarding Distracted Driving
Drivers Understand But Often Ignore Risks of Texting or Talking on Cell Phone
Distracted Driving: Risks Inside Your New Car or Truck
ABOUT LAPIN LAW OFFICES
Lapin Law Offices hopes everyone makes it to and from Husker football games safely. We represent drivers, passengers and pedestrians injured in collision. To learn about your rights and what we can do for you, please contact us anytime (24/7) at 402-421-8033 (Lincoln), 888-525-8819 (toll free) or through our website: Lapin Law Offices. We offer a free consultation and do not receive an attorney fee unless we collect money for you.
