Football & basketball season brings people together across New York City. From Saturday & Sunday afternoon games to Monday night matchups, New Yorkers gather at sports bars, restaurants, apartments, and watch parties throughout the five boroughs.
For many fans, having a few drinks is part of the celebration. But getting home safely should always be part of the plan too.
Alcohol can affect the skills needed to operate a vehicle safely. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that safe driving requires focus, coordination, good judgment, and quick reactions, and that alcohol can impair the ability to drive even before a person reaches the legal blood alcohol concentration limit.
That risk does not end with the person behind the wheel. Passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and other people traveling through New York City can all be affected by an impaired driver’s decision.
Why Alcohol and Driving Remain a Serious Safety Concern
The consequences of impaired driving continue to be significant nationwide.
According to the CDC, 13,524 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol impaired drivers in 2022, representing 32 percent of all traffic related deaths in the United States that year. The CDC also reported that 40 percent of people who died in those crashes were passengers of impaired drivers, occupants of other vehicles, or people outside vehicles, including pedestrians.
More recent data is also available through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Its 2026 traffic safety publications include reports analyzing 2024 alcohol impaired driving and pedestrian fatalities.
The message for football fans is simple: if drinking is part of your game day plans, driving should not be.
Make the Transportation Plan Before Kickoff
Waiting until the game ends to decide how you are getting home can create an unnecessary risk.
Before going to a bar, restaurant, tailgate, or watch party, decide how everyone in your group will get home. Options in New York City may include the subway, buses, a taxi, a rideshare service, or a designated driver who does not drink.
The important part is making that decision while everyone is sober.
NHTSA’s traffic safety campaigns specifically encourage people who plan to drink to arrange for a safe, sober ride home. The agency continues to run national public education efforts focused on preventing impaired driving.
Friends and family can also look out for one another. If someone who has been drinking intends to drive, help them find another way home rather than allowing an unsafe decision to become someone else’s tragedy.
Pedestrian Safety Matters on Game Day Too
New York City is a walking city, which means basketball & football fans heading home may spend at least part of their trip on foot.
National pedestrian safety data shows why vigilance matters. NHTSA reports that 7,080 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes across the United States in 2024 and more than 71,000 were injured. The agency advises pedestrians to use sidewalks when available, cross at intersections or crosswalks, remain alert while crossing, and watch carefully for the actions of drivers and cyclists.
There is also important New York specific research concerning alcohol, drugs, and pedestrian safety.
A 2026 study published in Injury Prevention analyzed 771 pedestrian deaths in New York State from 2018 through 2020. Researchers found that 43.8 percent involved alcohol, drugs, or both on the part of the pedestrian. The authors concluded that public safety campaigns should address the dangers associated with walking while impaired in addition to impaired driving and should encourage people to plan for safe travel.
For fans, that means a safe ride home may still require careful choices after getting out of a taxi, rideshare vehicle, bus, or subway.
Safety Tips for Pedestrians After the Game
If you are walking home after watching a game:
- Use sidewalks whenever they are available.
- Cross at intersections or designated crosswalks.
- Follow pedestrian signals and traffic signs.
- Stop and make sure vehicles have come to a complete stop before entering the roadway.
- Remain alert to vehicles, bicycles, and other road users.
- If you have been drinking, consider traveling with a sober friend who can help your group navigate home safely.
NHTSA specifically advises pedestrians not to rely on drivers to keep them safe and recommends watching traffic carefully throughout the crossing.
Drivers Have a Responsibility to Watch for Pedestrians
Even drivers who have not consumed alcohol need to be particularly attentive when traveling through busy areas after a game.
Pedestrian traffic can be heavy around bars, restaurants, subway stations, parking facilities, and entertainment districts. Drivers should approach intersections carefully, obey traffic signals and posted speed limits, and watch for people entering crosswalks.
Street design is another part of New York City’s pedestrian safety strategy. NYC DOT says safety is its first priority when designing city streets and public spaces, and its pedestrian programs include measures intended to reduce speeding and aggressive driving while improving pedestrian safety.
For an individual driver, however, basic decisions still matter. Slow down, pay attention, eliminate distractions, and never drive after drinking.
Alcohol Can Affect Pedestrians Too
The dangers associated with alcohol are sometimes discussed almost exclusively in terms of driving. The recent New York State research shows why pedestrian safety deserves attention as well.
If you have been drinking, do not assume walking automatically eliminates every transportation risk. Impairment may make navigating busy streets more dangerous, particularly when crossing intersections or moving through areas with vehicle traffic. The New York study specifically concluded that pedestrian substance use is an important and underrecognized safety concern.
A safer game plan means thinking about the entire trip home, not simply avoiding the driver’s seat.
Celebrate the Game, Protect Your Fellow New Yorkers
Football & basketball should give New Yorkers something to celebrate, not a reason for someone’s life to change forever.
Whether you are driving, walking, riding with someone else, or taking public transportation, make safety part of your game day routine. Arrange transportation before drinking begins. Never let an impaired person drive. Stay alert when walking near traffic. And remember that the choices you make after the final whistle can affect everyone sharing the street.
Looking out for teammates is part of the game. On New York City streets, we can do the same for one another.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured because of an impaired or negligent driver, speaking with an experienced New York City personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal rights and the options that may be available to you.