Mothers Against Drunk Driving has launched its 35th annual Tie One On for Safety campaign, a holiday effort urging people to plan for a designated driver.
Tynesha Anderson, program specialist of MADD Georgia, was on WDUN's Newsroom Wednesday to speak about the campaign. Anderson said the campaign involves displaying a red MADD ribbon on your vehicle until Dec. 31 as a reminder to assign a designated driver before attending a social function where alcohol is involved.
“Within the 35 years we have witnessed a lot of … the red ribbon saving a lot of peoples’ lives,” Anderson said. “But now, more than ever, with the pandemic a lot of people around this holiday season are drinking and they’re deciding to get in their vehicle. So, we really want to spread the message that that is not the smartest thing to do.”
A press release from MADD Georgia stated that there were 926 drunk driving fatalities across the country from 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Even in 2019. Those deaths accounted for 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2019, according to the release.
Anderson said aside from the increase in holiday festivities during November and December, people have been drinking more at this time of the year during the pandemic due to the stress it has evoked. The press release from MADD states preliminary data shows a nine percent increase in drunk driving deaths in 2020.
“We’re dealing with a lot of being laid off our jobs, and not really being able to do a lot of things that we were normally able to do before the pandemic,” Anderson said. “It increased a lot of people’s stress and anxiety, and so unfortunately a lot of people turn to alcohol as a way to cope.”
Anderson said information about the Tie One On for Safety campaign is available on the MADD website.
