MADD VA E-Newsletter                                                                   February 2024

Young Drivers Update

“Young drivers are nearly four times more likely to be involved in a fatal traffic crash than their older counterparts” according to a recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

“Over the past two decades, fatal crashes involving a young driver fell 38%, while they increased nearly 8% for drivers 21 and older. At the same time, deaths of young drivers fell about 45%, compared to an 11% increase in fatalities for older drivers,” according to a GHSA press release. But there is still much work to be done. The release goes on to say, “Safer teen drivers make our roads safer for everyone around them – especially people walking, biking, scooting or using other forms of non-motorized transportation. The [GHSA] report discusses five proven policies and programs that research confirms the teen driver safety gains can be attributed to. GHSA recommends building on these five countermeasures and proposes a sixth.” You can read the full report with GHSA’s recommended countermeasures here.

What can you do to ensure the safety of the teen drivers in your life?

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens, and about a quarter of fatal crashes involve an underage drinking driver. In 2021, 27% of young drivers 15-20 years old who were killed in crashes had BAC’s of .01g/dl or higher. Source

The GHSA report states that, “Efforts to promote the critical role parents and guardians play in monitoring and coaching their teens also has contributed to the reduction in young driver crashes and crash rates...teens are less likely to crash and violate the law if they have parents who set, monitor and enforce safe driving practices.” Source. The report also says that while teens say parents are their number one influencer when it comes to learning to drive, not all teens have a parent or guardian who is willing or able to be engaged but “teachers, coaches, clergy, club advisors and employers,” and other adult influencers can also have an impact.

MADD’s Underage Drinking Prevention programs can help!

Power of Parents

Teens also say that parents are their number one influence in their decision to drink alcohol. Kids who start drinking young are 7x more likely to be in a motor vehicle crash after drinking. Source.   As a parent, you have the power to help your child make smarter, safer choices. Your influence can save lives ... perhaps even your child's.

MADD’s Power of Parents® program empowers parents of middle school and high school students to have ongoing, intentional conversations about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking and other drug use. Find information and resources here.  Contact the MADD Virginia office at [email protected] to learn how to receive a free parent handbook or to schedule a free parent workshop in your community.

Power of Youth

YOU HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOU THINK WHEN IT COMES TO SAYING NO TO ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS

Power of You(th)® is one of MADD’s programs that provides you with research-based information on the dangers of underage drinking and other drug use.

We want to prepare you with the tools to resist peer pressure and empower you to take the next step and influence your friends to make the right choices. Your future is determined by the decisions you make today.

Check out our resources and take the quiz. Share these resources with your peers to keep your friends safe and informed.

Contact [email protected] to schedule a free workshop for youth in your school, church or community!

Impaired Driving Stories in the News

12-18-23 Governor Reminds Virginians to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

12-27-23 US Roadways a Little Safer Than Last Year But That’s Not Saying Much

12-30-23 Shelby Riddick-Walker Dies in Head-on Crash Inside Tunnel, 43, Norfolk 

12-31-23 Brian Jenkins Killed in Impaired Driving Crash, 29, Warren County 

1-2-24 Community Rallies Around Teen Injured in Crash

1-2-24 230 People Killed in VA Alcohol Related Crashes

1-3-24 49 Crashes Reported Over the Holidays

1-4-24 Car Crash Ends in DUI Arrest in Chesterfield

1-5-24 South Hill Man killed, Driver Arrested for DUI

1-5-24 Driver Crashes Into Alexandria Restaurant Patio

Calendar

February Victim Support Group

February 15 - MADD Mid-Atlantic Monthly Virtual Support Group via Teams at 6:00 pm

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_M2M3ZmZmYTUtZGY0OC00MTE3LWI0MzItOWZhMzU4ZTFjM2Zh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%224d97059f-5f7e-491b-8c1e-8ff3eb6788c0%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%228f0751c2-c692-4387-9287-3b5b82719d9f%22%7d

Please contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

April 24 – SAVE THE DATE: Virtual Victim Candlelight Vigil

­­­­­­SAVE THE DATES:

May 18 - Walk Like MADD Northern Virginia

June 1 - Walk Like MADD Shenandoah Valley

September 28 - Walk Like MADD Richmond

St. Patrick's Day- Sunday March 17, 2024

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest days on our nation’s roads. There were 272 lives lost in drunk-driving crashes during the holiday period (6:00 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18) between 2017 and 2021. Year after year, the rate of impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes is higher at night on St. Patrick’s Day. In 2021, 41 of the 47 traffic fatalities involving an impaired driver during the holiday period occurred in the nighttime hours (6:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.). Still, 31 daytime fatalities in drunk-driving crashes occurred between 2017 and 2021 over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period. It doesn’t matter if it is during the day or the night, Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. Source

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