On December 17, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) National President Jan Withers joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, along with other traffic safety organizations and local law enforcement officers to kick-off this year’s holiday crackdown campaign. Jan, along with victim/survivor Gene Gallagher, whose daughter, Katlin Marie, died in a drunk driving crash on New Year’s Day 2012, shared their stories, putting a face on this 100 percent preventable crime.
NHTSA’s (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) signature campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, is an effective tool to deter the would-be drunk driver from driving drunk. MADD supports this program and calls on every state to conduct sobriety checkpoints during this campaign. Sobriety checkpoints are a key component of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® and a proven countermeasure to save lives on our roads.
Data shows that the holiday season is a particularly deadly time due to the increased number of drunk drivers on the roads. During last year’s Christmas holiday, 134 people died in drunk driving crashes. This represents 37 percent of traffic deaths, compared with 31 percent on average for the year. Additionally, over the New Year Holiday, 140 people were killed in drunk driving crashes—39 percent of the total people killed in traffic crashes.
At a time when families across the nation are coming together to celebrate with family and friends, MADD urges everyone to:
•Always plan a head with a non-drinking designated driver.
•Learn how to be a responsible party host to help keep your friends and loved ones safe with our Safe Party Guide.
•Get tips on how to prevent someone from driving drunk.
•Learn how to recognize and report drunk drivers on the roadways.
•Check out NHTSA’s winter driving tips, and always buckle up when traveling.
•Call 911 to report drunk drivers!
Drink and Drive repsonsibly!
We wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season!
Vist the MADD Website for more safe driving tips!