MAAD New Mexico News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Mothers Against Drunk Driving ® (MADD) New Mexico and will host A Candlelight Vigil Thursday, Dec. 8, in honor of those lost or injured to impaired driving in New Mexico.
The Vigil is part of MADD’s annual campaign to kick off a safe 2022 holiday season and celebrate 35 Years of the Designated Driver. MADD encourages everyone to show their commitment to keeping themselves and our communities safe by displaying a MADD Tie One On for Safety red ribbon or magnetic decal on their vehicles and by always choosing a non-drinking, unimpaired driver.
To learn more about Tie One On for Safety and pick up your red ribbon, stop by the MADD New Mexico office at 3411 Candelaria Rd NE, Suite B, Albuquerque, or visit madd.org/NM to learn more.
“Whether you’re going out to holiday festivities or hosting a party, always remember your designated driver,” said Katrina Latka, MADD New Mexico Affiliate Executive Director. “Everyone can help keep our holiday season joyous by planning ahead when celebrations include alcohol. Take personal responsibility for your travel by choosing a non-drinking, unimpaired driver and remember to include non-alcoholic options for the designated drivers who are guests in your home.”
MADD’s Candlelight Vigil will be hosted by the Strong-Thorne Mortuary, 100 Coal Ave SE, Albuquerque, at 6 p.m., Dec. 8. All are welcome to attend.
The holidays are among the most dangerous times on our nation’s roadways, with more people traveling, an increased number of events where alcohol is served, and a surge in drunk driving. Between 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Eve in 2020, there were 1,133 lives lost to drunk driving across the country, accounting for 30 percent of all traffic deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In addition, a new study by NHTSA shows an alarming 7% increase in alcohol-related crashes in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021.
“With so many options today such as Uber and Lyft, taxis, and public transportation there is no excuse to drive while impaired alcohol or other drugs,” Latka said. To learn more about how to safely host party guests this holiday season, visit here.
Since 1986, MADD has helped to make the “designated driver” a household name through its longest-running annual public awareness campaign, Tie One On for Safety. This red ribbon campaign happens annually during November and December. December is also National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, a designation proclaimed by every U.S. President since 1981.
MADD thanks all law enforcement personnel who will be working harder than ever this holiday season to protect the public from drunk driving through increased patrols and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement efforts. MADD appreciates their enforcement through high-visibility checkpoints and saturation patrols to keep our roadways safe.
MADD is also partnering with Cumulus Media to provide free Uber ride codes during the Christmas and New Years holidays. The “Take A Ride On Us” program is a joint effort with Cumulus, Bernalillo County, Sandoval County, NMDOT/endwi, MADD New Mexico, and Whitener Law Firm. Promotional codes will be announced on Cumulus Media’s radio stations, as well as across social media platforms. Interested riders may receive $10 off a ride during the holiday period.
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 to save over 390,000 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.
About Waymo
MADD is grateful for the partnership of its National Tie One On for Safety presenting sponsor, Waymo. Because of the work of strategic partners like Waymo, MADD is confident that reaching a future of NO MORE VICTIMS is attainable. But to get there, we will need everyone to join in our lifesaving work by making plans before the festivities begin, designating a non-drinking, non-consuming driver and buckling up this holiday season.
Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with a mission to make it safe and easy for people and things to get where they’re going. Since our start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has been focused on building the World’s Most Experienced Driver to improve the world’s access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo One, the world’s first fully driverless ride-hailing service, as well as Waymo Via, our trucking and local delivery service.
To date, Waymo has driven more than 20 million miles autonomously on public roads across 25 U.S. cities and driven over 15 billion miles in simulation. For more visit www.waymo.com.