KEEP MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SAFE; DESIGNATE A NON-DRINKING DRIVER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, May 24, 2019

CONTACT: Lori Burke

Keep Memorial Day Weekend Safe; Designate a Non-drinking Driver

37% of Traffic Deaths Are Alcohol-Related Over 3-day Weekend

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) urges everyone to designate a non-drinking driver if their Memorial Day weekend plans include alcohol. Drunk driving is completely preventable, yet claimed 149 lives from 6 p.m. Friday to 5:59 a.m. Monday during the 2017 Memorial Day weekend.

Drunk driving is the leading killer on our nation’s roads, claiming almost 11,000 lives in 2017. In addition, law enforcement reports an increase in drivers with both alcohol and drugs in their system — a deadly combination.

“This Memorial Day weekend, as we honor our nation’s heroes who sacrificed their lives to save ours, please remember to keep yourselves and those around you safe by choosing a non-drinking driver to get you to and from your destination,” said Lori Burke, Executive Director of MADD in Southwest Florida. “This weekend is going to be hotter than usual. Enjoy time on the beach and out on the water with your family and friends. Just make sure you choose one of the many options, a non-drinking friend, rideshare, taxi or public transportation, if alcohol is included in your activities and a non-drinking sober boat captain.”

Memorial Day weekend is an unofficial kickoff to summer, with school years ending and vacations putting more drivers on U.S. roads. With the rising temperatures comes an increase in all traffic deaths including those caused by drunk driving crashes. In 2017, 37 percent of traffic deaths during the Memorial Day weekend were caused by drunk driving.

Memorial Day is also the start of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Click it or Ticket campaign. Law enforcement will be out checking to make sure motorists are buckled. MADD reminds everyone to wear their seatbelts because this remains a great defense against drunk drivers.

Drunk driving 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 offenders; support for high-visibility law enforcement; support for advanced vehicle technologies and public support for these initiatives.

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 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 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.