Plan Ahead for a Non-drinking Driver Before the Celebration Begins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lori M. Burke, [email protected], 239.791.7560

 

 

MADD Southwest Floria Urges Safety During One of the Deadliest Holidays for Drunk Driving

Plan Ahead for a Non-drinking Driver Before the Celebration Begins

 

Fort Myers, FL — Long holiday weekends can be dangerous on America’s roads, and July 4th and the days surrounding the national holiday are among the deadliest for drunk driving. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) urges everyone to celebrate safely by planning ahead and designating a non-drinking driver if plans include alcohol.

Law enforcement will be setting up sobriety checkpoints and out in full force arresting drivers who are not sober during this holiday.

Sobriety checkpoints are an enforcement program that allows officers to stop all or predetermined vehicles to check for sobriety of the drivers and have been proven effective in enforcement and community education and awareness.

“Celebrating our nation’s independence with backyard barbecues, fireworks displays and other festivities should be fun, not dangerous,” said Lori Burke, Executive Director. “Celebrate safely by designating a non-drinking driver every time plans include alcohol.”

More people die in drunk driving crashes in July than any other month, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The July 4 holiday is particularly deadly.

Drunk driving typically accounts for about 40% of all traffic deaths on July 4th and the weekend before or after. According to NHTSA, 39% of all traffic deaths from 6 p.m. Friday June 30 to 5:59 a.m. Wednesday July 5, 2017, were alcohol-related. Drunk driving killed 237 people in that time period that year (the most current data available from NHTSA).

Drunk driving remains the leading killer on our roads, yet these senseless deaths are 100 percent preventable, 100 percent of the time. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving is helping create a future with No More Victims®. The campaign includes advocacy for stronger drunk driving laws including ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders, support for high-visibility law enforcement, support for advanced vehicle technologies and public support for these initiatives.

MADD reminds everyone to take personal responsibility every day by using taxis, public transportation, rideshare services or calling a non-drinking friend if their plans include alcohol.

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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 nearly 380,000 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, advanced vehicle technology and public support. 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.

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