Trying to head off too much celebration before getting into the car or truck to drive home, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff, the county’s STOP-DWI and Traffic Safety Programs, and State Police are reminding Super Bowl fans to also plan for a safe drive home after the game.

Those who are hosting parties and those who will be cheering on the New England and New York teams at a favorite bar should make sure that everyone has a safe and sober ride home after the final whistle, advise authorities.

Across the country in 2010, 10,228 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a high enough blood alcohol content, by New York standards, to be charged with driving while intoxicated. In St. Lawrence County alone, there were 95 alcohol-related crashes during 2010, including two fatalities and 44 people injured.

“We are also urging hosts to refrain from serving alcohol to those under 21,” said St. Lawrence County STOP-DWI Coordinator Michele James. About one in 10 impaired driving arrests in 2011 were of someone under the legal drinking age, James said.

“Hosts are legally responsible for the consequences of serving alcohol to underage family friends,” said county Traffic Safety Specialist Mary Davidson. She said underage drivers were involved in almost 13 percent of the alcohol-related crashes in the county in 2010.

These safety specialists offer reminders in hopes of making this coming weekend a safer one for everyone:

• Discuss travel plans when you’re inviting friends to your party. A designated driver should not be the least drunk, but someone who hasn’t had anything to drink.

• Ensure that all guests designate their sober drivers before kickoff. Help plan ride-sharing.

• Have the telephone numbers for taxicab companies handy.

• Have lots of non-alcoholic beverages and food available.

• Stop serving alcohol at halftime, or at least an hour before the end of the game.

• Reward designated drivers at your event. Make sure their glasses of non-alcoholic beverages are always full. Give them dibs on the buffet.

• If you have any concerns, err on the side of caution. Plan to have guests stay over rather than drive while “buzzed.” “Buzzed” driving is always drunk driving.