The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

With football season in full swing, the Texas Department of Transportation reminds drivers to stay sober and safe as they make their way to and from their game-day destinations.

To help spread this message, the TxDOT Fan Van is traveling throughout Texas until January to remind football fans about the consequences of drinking and driving. Shaped like a giant football, the Fan Van is appearing at tailgate events across the state and gives football fans the chance to win a trip to pro football’s Big Game in 2016. Eligible spectators must take a pledge to not drink and drive this football season. Contest details and ways to enter can be found at TexasGamePlan.com.

Top Texas football coaches — including Art Briles of Baylor University and Tony Levine of the University of Houston — are joining TxDOT’s effort by appearing in videos that encourage their team’s fans to make a sober-ride game plan.

Alcohol-related traffic crashes in Texas were alarmingly high last football season. More than 1,700 DUI-alcohol crashes occurred in 2013 when a Texas college or professional football team was playing, a 7-percent increase over 2012. The dangerous trend on football game days when a Texas team is playing shows a continuous upward swing from 2011 to 2013.

Along with driving sober, TxDOT urges drivers to stay rested, put away phones, obey all traffic laws and buckle up. The agency offers 12 Travel Information Centers across the state where drivers can rest, refresh, get directions and enjoy other safe-travel services.