Observing MADD’s Longstanding Tie One On For Safety Campaign

November 14, 2016 / Vehicle Accidents

For nearly four decades, Mothers Against Drunk Driving has been working tirelessly on one single mission – to eliminate drunk driving on our roadways. It’s little wonder that the organization is so popular. Theirs is a cause that almost everyone can get behind, especially since so many of us have some connection to a victim of drunk driving.

MADD is a vigilant advocate, and they have done an incredible amount of work to raise public awareness about the dangers of impaired driving on our roads. MADD tells us about new technologies that might help in the fight against drunk driving, like they did with ignition interlocks, and they remind us of times when we should be especially cautious.

The holiday season and its connection to drunk driving has been a major theme for MADD for the last thirty years. It was in 1986 that the organization first launched their “Tie One On For Safety” campaign to stress the importance of designating a driver during the holidays.

It’s a message borne out of the increase in drunk driving accidents that occur around our major holidays, from Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s Day. During this time of the year, people gather together to celebrate the holidays and enjoy the company of their friends and family. Many people also enjoy alcohol as a part of the festivities. Because of this fact, drunk driving-related crashes increase on holidays, and the need for Tie One On For Safety becomes very clear.

Like every other state, Indiana has a vested interest in making our roads safer from drunk drivers. From 2003 to 2012, 2,210 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. The age group with the highest rate of death in drunk driving crashes is the 21- to 34-year-old age group. In the United States, drunk driving contributes to around one-third of all traffic deaths.

What Can You Do to Help MADD’s Cause?

MADD says that we can raise awareness of the importance of drunk driving safety by placing the MADD red ribbon decals on our vehicles to serve as a reminder. You can find out more about donating to MADD or using their many resources by visiting their website.

Most importantly, we should each do our part to make sure there are fewer drunk drivers on our roads. This might mean being the designated driver when you and your friends go to a holiday party, but it can also include doing several other things to ensure that people get home safely.

Holiday Safety Tips:

• Always arrange transportation when making plans for celebrations or gatherings that will involve alcohol.
• At parties, make sure that people have non-alcoholic drink alternatives.
• If hosting a party, offer a place to stay or a ride home.
• If hosting a party, make sure that guests have plenty of food.
• Stop serving drinks at the party well before the party ends.
• Have contact information for transportation at hand, including taxis, designated drivers, Uber or Lyft.

MADD has been doing great work for decades, and their efforts have been paying off. But the struggle to make our roads free from drunk drivers is an ongoing one. This holiday season, make planning for a safe ride a key part of the festivities.

To learn more about MADD’s Tie One On For Safety Campaign, check out the MADD website.