Started in 1986, Tie One On For Safety® is MADD’s (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) longest running and most visible public awareness project. MADD asks holiday drivers to tie MADD red ribbons to visible locations on their vehicles, or place window decals on their vehicles’ windows. The red ribbons represent drivers’ pledges to drive safely, sober and buckled up, reminding other drivers and passengers to do the same.  MADD began in 1980, and has become one of the most famous non-profit organizations in U.S. and Canada.  The result of drunk-driving accidents that took the lives of their children, some of the victim’s mothers got together and started the project of saving lives by preventing these types of devastating accidents.  The Tie One On For Safety runs from November 16th through New Year’s Day, so let’s be prepared to promote this project by being diligent about the cause. 

How can the public participate in Tie One On For Safety?

This holiday season, individuals can demonstrate their commitment to eliminate drunk driving in several ways:

• Display a red ribbon in a visible location on your vehicles. Red ribbons and red ribbon window decals are available through local MADD affiliates. 
• Host parties responsibly by offering mock-tails and other non-alcoholic beverages, and by providing alternate transportation or accommodations for guests who have been drinking.
• Designate a sober driver before drinking begins.

Give the Gift of a Designated Driver™

This year MADD is also offering the gift we can all give each other – the gift of a safe and sober ride home.  If you are looking for a cost effective, yet thoughtful gift to give your friends, consider downloading one of their coupons (or make your own), offering to be their DD this holiday season. 

MADD also asks the public to Tie One On For Safety in support of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, which calls for intensive, high-visibility law enforcement efforts that include sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols; advocates that all convicted drunk drivers have an alcohol ignition interlock installed on their vehicles; supports the research of transparent, vehicle-based technologies that will prevent a drunk driver from driving drunk; and mobilizes grassroots support of all of these efforts, led by MADD.

Holiday drivers, please display a MADD red ribbon or red ribbon decal on your vehicles, or tie one to car keys to show family, friends and loved ones you support safer roads free from drunk driving. It also reminds other drivers and passengers to do the same. More than 6 million ribbons and ribbon symbols are distributed annually in the United States. Their message also includes seat belts because it is the best defense in a crash caused by a drunk driver. The holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day is when road travel is the heaviest of the year and typically drunk driving increases. 

MADD Statistics:

An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before first arrest. 

MADD serves a victim or survivor of drunk driving every nine minutes.

This year, 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes – one every 50 minutes.

One in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.

One in three 8th graders drinks alcohol.  MADD has saved 27,000 young lives through passage of groundbreaking public health laws.

One in three will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.

Every minute, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash.

50 to 75% of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.

One in five teens binge drink. Only 1 in 100 parents believes his or her teen binge drinks.

Teen alcohol use kills about 6000 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and one out of three of those is alcohol related.

Kids who start drinking young are seven times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash.

Drunk driving costs each adult in this country almost $500 per year.

High school students who use alcohol or other substances are five times more likely to drop out of school or believe good grades are not important.

Every minute, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash.

Since 1980 MADD has nearly saved 300,000 lives …and counting.

Open your eyes and see fully the importance of driving sober.  No one wants to live with the guilt of causing an accident because they partied too much, while celebrating the holidays, or any other time of the year.  Do all you can to promote safe driving.  If you “tie one on, please let it just be a red ribbon!”

Source: M.A.D.D.