From the week of Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day is a dangerous time to be on the road. This is the time of year for holiday parties, and more impaired drivers are on the road. One way to prevent drunk driving accidents is to encourage others to use designated drivers. This is why Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has their annual Tie One On For Safety Holiday Campaign.
Tie One On For Safety is MADD’s longest running public awareness project. To participate, you can display a MADD red ribbon on your vehicle. You can get a red ribbon, magnet, or window decal through your local MADD affiliate. These ribbons encourage others to designate a driver and avoid getting behind the wheel after a night of partying.
This campaign and others like it are important because drunk driving is prevalent during the holidays. By the end of the holidays, nearly 27,900 people will be seriously injured and 250 will die in drunk driving accidents. The National Safety Council reports that 42 percent of the estimated traffic fatalities during the New Year’s period between the years 2007 and 2011 resulted from drunk driving.
This holiday season, you can help protect the lives of your loved ones by making smart, safe choices. If you are drinking, DO NOT get behind the wheel, no matter how sober you feel. Get a designated driver or use a taxi service to get home. If people are drinking at your home this holiday season, don’t let them drive home drunk. Offer them a place to stay while they sober up, or contact a ride-sharing service for them.
The holidays are supposed to be filled with joy and love. Make sure you do your part to encourage safe behavior and prevent tragedy. If you’re injured in a car accident involving a drunk or negligent driver, call Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers for more information about your legal rights.
You can reach us at (888) 233-5020.
