Both Carnival and the Super Bowl are times when people are known to overindulge in alcohol, but when they happen at the same time there's the potential for more tragedy when it comes to alcohol-related crashes.
Triple-A reports the state's Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety that of the combined 614 such crashes that occurred during the 2022 and 2023 Carnival seasons nearly half of the injuries and 100 percent of the fatalities took place on the final weekend of the event and on Fat Tuesday.
Triple-A's Don Redman says with the Super Bowl this Sunday, the travel group is concerned that it will bring a spike in deadly crashes.
He says, "We might see an increase in the number of people who are driving impaired, particularly under the influence of alcohol leading to crashes and fatalities."
Redman indicates he was taken aback by the crash figures.
He says, "It was a surprise for me. I think we've all known anecdotally" of the possibility of the higher crash numbers.
The advice from Redman is that if you have plans to gather with friends and family for the Carnival parades this Sunday or to watch the Super Bowl, make sure you have made arrangements in advance if you plan to make alcohol part of your fun time.
What ever the case, Redman says, "Don't drink and drive."
He also reminds us that at the height of Carnival this weekend, prior to Mardi Gras Tuesday, services offering ride-hailing or ride share services will be in high demand, so you may have to come up with alternate plans, such as having designated drivers or using public transportation.