By Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is a problem year round. That’s why Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the NFL have joined forces to help encourage people to make safe decisions on the roadways.
It’s especially common around the holidays, with the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s containing several of the worst days for drunk driving. In particular, New Year’s Day is the worst day of the year for drunk driving, with significantly more than double the drunk driving deaths of the average day.
That’s why, every year, MADD runs its Tie One On For Safety program during the holidays. The campaign encourages people to put a ribbon on their vehicle as a statement that they aren’t going to drive drunk and to remind others to do likewise.
With 73% of Americans recently reporting that they had seen someone trying to drive off from an event after having too much to drink, it’s a very important message. “The safest choice is to always designate a non-drinking driver before you leave home,” said MADD National President Jan Withers. “But if you see someone trying to drive after drinking, step in and offer to help them get home safely.”
However, that seems hard to do – in fact, almost one out of every five Americans said that when they saw someone trying to drive drunk, they did nothing. At this year’s Rookie Symposium, a player asked Titans tight end Delaine Walker what he would do in that type of situation. His answer was that he would do whatever it takes.
Here are some tips for doing what it takes:
- Be as non-confrontational as possible.
- Suggest alternate ways of getting to their destination — a cab, a non-drinking driver, public transportation.
- Remember that the person you are talking to is impaired — talk a bit more slowly and explain things more fully than if you were speaking to a sober person.
- Explain that you don’t want them to drive because you care and you don’t want them to hurt themselves or others.
- Suggest that they sleep over.
- Enlist a friend to help you or to act as moral support — it’s more difficult to say “no” to two (or three or four) people than one.
- If possible, get the person’s keys. It is far easier to persuade the potential driver when you hold this leverage.
- If all else fails, call law enforcement. It’s better to have a friend arrested than injured or killed.
But the biggest thing to remember is to know how to get home before you go out. It’s a simple rule, but it could save you from a DUI conviction, or worse.
So, this holiday season, remember to have fun and be safe by designating your non-drinking driver ahead of time. And be sure to get your MADD ribbon at www.madd.org.