Welcome Ashley Francis!

 

We are extremely happy to announce that Ashley Francis has joined MADD VA as Public Relations Specialist. Ashley graduated from Christopher Newport University with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Communication, then decided to go back to school and graduated from West Virginia University with a M.S. in Digital Marketing Communications.  Ashley says, “I am very passionate about media and marketing, and I am excited to start my journey with MADD!”  Ashley can be reached at [email protected].

Congratulations Debbie Sausville

Debbie Sausville with Program Specialist Jennifer Hamilton

Debbie’s stepdaughter, Lauren Grace Sausville

Volunteer Debbie Sausville has been awarded an Outstanding Service Award for her many contributions toward ending impaired driving and underage drinking since 2005. Debbie’s 16-year-old stepdaughter, Lauren Grace Sausville, was killed in a drunk driving crash on Dec. 3, 2004. Lauren wasn’t hit by a drunk driver, she was the drunk driver. Speed and alcohol (.13 BAC) led to her untimely death.

Since Lauren’s death, Debbie’s life has been committed to the prevention of impaired driving and particularly underage drinking and driving. Debbie has been a volunteer with the 24-hour MADD HELP line since 2009. She shared her story on behalf of MADD at military/NATO bases across Europe three times between 2005 and 2015. Stateside, Debbie has spoken at high schools, military bases and to ASAP offender audiences. She also participates in Fairfax County Police Department DUI Checkpoints and serves as Chair of the Fairfax County ASAP Policy Board. A video she recorded about Lauren’s crash has over 12k views on YouTube. You can view the video here.

We are extremely grateful for Debbie and volunteers like her who have turned their pain to purpose toward a future of #NoMoreVictims.

Child Passenger Safety Week is September 17-23, 2023

MADD believes that every child deserves a sober driver and that driving impaired with a child passenger in a vehicle is a form of child abuse.

NHTSA has recently released the Publication “Traffic Safety Facts- Children.” The key findings are staggering:

In 2021, of the 1,184 children (under age 14) killed in traffic crashes, an estimated 294 (25%) were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. (Source: NHTSA)

Of those 294 deaths:

Virginia has a misdemeanor Child Endangerment DUI law. 18.2-270 (D), DUI While Transporting a Minor. The law says: In addition to the penalty otherwise authorized by this section or § 16.1-278.9, any person convicted of a violation of § 18.2-266 committed while transporting a person 17 years of age or younger shall be (i) fined an additional minimum of $500 and not more than $1,000 and (ii) sentenced to a mandatory minimum period of confinement of five days.

How can Virginia better protect our kids? Read here about a model Felony Child Endangerment Law that has been enacted in New York. Do you have concerns for the safety of a child in your life? Check out this MADD publication: “Preventing Substance Impaired Driving and Child Endangerment.”

Impaired driving stories in the news

7/5/23 July 4 BUI Arrests on Smith Mountain Lake

7/8/23 Luis Fernand Rodriguez, 26,Fairfax

7/17/23 Drunk Driver Injures VA Beach Police Officer in Crash

8/9/23 Man in Crash Assaults Those Who Tried to Assist

8/5/23 Jermaine Scott, 43, Louisa

8/6/23 David Lively, 33, Louisa

8/7/23 Three Vehicle Crash sends Two to Hospital. Driver Charged with DUI

8/12/23 Raymond Reigle, 25, Roanoke

MADD Around Virginia

Victim Speaker Tammy sharing her story with soldiers at Ft. Eustis.

Volunteer Mark at National Night Out in Dumfries              

MADD at National Night Out in Goochland

Program Specialist Jennifer Hamilton at National Night Out in Purcellville

Volunteer Tracy with her family at National Night Out in Louisa

National Teen Driver Safety Week is coming up October 15-21!

National Teen Driver Safety Week is October 15-21, 2023

This week - and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. These rules address the greatest dangers for teen drivers: alcohol, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding, and number of passengers.

Know the Facts About Teen Driver Fatalities

Social media resources are available now at  https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/teen-safety/national-teen-driver-safety-week/rules-road.

This newsletter is supported by a federal highway safety grant administered by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.