Share this article:

MADD Launches Petition to Stop Social Media from Promoting Drunk Driving

MADD Launches #Drunkdrivinggoesviral Petition for Stopping Facebook, Instagram and Twitter from Posting Content Promoting Drunk Driving

08/04/2017

Contact Information
[email protected]

DALLAS – In light of two recent live streamed crashes by alleged drunk drivers, one in California and then in Pennsylvania that resulted in deaths and injuries, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) launched a petition from August 1 to August 31 asking Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to adopt a policy against posting images, videos and other content that brag about drunk driving. The petition went live at www.madd.org/drunkdrivinggoesviral.

“I am far too familiar with the pain with the death of my son due to someone else’s selfish choice of driving drunk,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church, whose 18-year-old son Dustin was killed by an underage drunk and drugged driver. “I am extremely worried that bragging about drunk driving is a growing trend that gives other young people the perception that it is okay to commit this completely preventable and dangerous crime.”

MADD wanted to work with the social media industry to help put an end to drunk driving. We asked for 50,000 signatures by August 31 to provide to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to consider our plea to put an end to the trend of live broadcasting the deadly drunk driving crime. MADD asked media outlets to share the petition across the nation, and for family and friends to share the petition on social media.

Sheehey-Church is especially concerned about the repercussions of television shows unapologetically using drunk driving as a shtick for entertainment. A recent example is the Netflix show “Friends from College” using drunk driving as a comedic hook in an episode. Therefore, MADD is asking the entertainment industry to use its influence in promoting a dialogue that condemns this crime.

“Drunk driving has already taken far too many lives, and now to use social media and television shows to make light and even brag about this crime is beyond unacceptable,” continued Sheehey-Church. “We cannot continue to be complacent about young people using drunk driving as an entertainment factor. So I’m asking people to join us in our efforts to put an end to drunk driving going viral and go to madd.org to pledge support for No More Vicitms.”

Anyone impacted by drunk driving, drugged driving or underage drinking consequences, MADD Victim Services are available at no charge, providing one supportive services every three minutes through local victim advocates and MADD’s 24-Hour Victim Helpline, 1-877-MADD-HELP.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving®(MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 350,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.

# # #

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.