Started in 1986, Tie One On For Safety, MADD’s premier public awareness project, celebrates its 24^th annual campaign in 2010. Tie One On For Safety runs Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day when road travel is the heaviest of the year and the number of drunk driving crashes typically increases. Holiday drivers display a MADD red ribbon or red ribbon decal in a visible location on their vehicles or tied to their car keys to show family, friends and loved ones they support safer roads free from drunk driving. The red ribbon is a symbol of the driver’s pledge to drive safe, sober and buckled up. It also reminds other drivers and passengers to do the same.

MADD Colorado distributes approximately 20,000 red ribbons annually and hopes to increase distribution with the help of community support. More than 6 million ribbons and ribbon symbols are distributed annually in the United States. Show your support with a red ribbon in a visible location on your vehicle or tied to your car keys. Red ribbons and red ribbon window decals are available through local MADD affiliates.

Why is Tie One On For Safety important?

• In 2008, 218 people in Colorado were killed in alcohol related crashes (NHTSA, 2009). Of these deaths, 173 people were killed in crashes where the driver was at or above .08 (NHTSA, 2009). 
• Across the country each year, more than 1,000 people die in drunk driving crashes between the Thanksgiving and New Year’s holidays. An additional 1,000 are killed in crashes where safety belts were not used.
• Over 1,000 alcohol-related crashes resulted in injuries in Colorado every year (CSP, 2005).
• Of the 390 fatalities in motor vehicles with seatbelts in 2007, 206 (53%) were not buckled up. If everyone had buckled up, about half of those victims should have survived (CDOT 2008-2009 Factbook).
• The National Highway Safety Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that over $100 billion is spent on drunk driving in the United States annually and the average alcohol-related fatality in the United States costs taxpayers $3.5 million.
• Alcohol-related crashes cost Coloradoans an estimated $1.9 billion—people other than the drunk driver pay $1.2 billion of that amount (PIRE, 2000). The public pays for nearly 75% of the cost of traffic crashes through taxes, increased insurance premiums, and travel delays (CDOT 2007-2008 Factbook).
• In Colorado, the estimated cost per injured survivor of an alcohol-related crash averages $109,000 (PIRE, 2000).

How Can You Support Tie One On For Safety?

• Designate a non-drinking driver before drinking begins.
• Show your support with a red ribbon  in a visible location on your vehicle or tied to your car keys. Red ribbons and red ribbon window decals are available through local MADD affiliates.
• Host parties responsibly  by offering mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages, and by providing alternate transportation or accommodations for guests who have been drinking. For safe party tips visit www.madd.org/safeparty.
• Volunteer for MADD Colorado! Go to www.madd.org/co to learn about the ways that you can get involved and help make our communities safer.

If you are interested in becoming a 2009 Tie One On For Safety red ribbon distributor please contact the MADD Colorado State Office at 303-425-5902. You may also order ribbons by completing the order form HERE and faxing it to the State Office at 303-425-5674.