MADD Virginia E-Newsletter                                                                August 2024

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is a national enforcement campaign that runs from August 16 – September 2, Labor Day weekend. This campaign focuses on the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving with an increase in law enforcement on the roads to help decrease the number of drunk drivers on the road. Source

 

There were 98 alcohol related crash over the Labor Day weekend in 2023. Unfortunately, 5 people died and 15 serious injured because of an alcohol related crash that weekend, one of them being a teenager. People ages 21-40 represented 60% of fatalities an alcohol related crash during Labor Day weekend.

 

The DMV Highway Safety Office has developed new strategies aiming to prevent alcohol-impaired driving that involves increasing impaired driving safety messages at restaurants, bars, and college sporting events. Bars and restaurants would advertise impaired driving safety messages on digital displays such as televisions at participating locations. In addition, impactful messaging will be at sporting events at Virginia Commonwealth University and James Madison University. This project is ongoing.

 

Labor Day Facts: Source

Don’t become one of these statistics. Enjoy Labor Day to the fullest but plan to have a safe, sober ride home. Schedule a rideshare, call a taxi, or have a sober friend get you home safely. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

Impaired Driving Crashes in the News

6/3/24 Crash in Stafford - Truck Meets Tree

6/7/24 Man Pleads Guilty in 2022 Crash in Which Friend Killed

6/11/24 Pedestrian Seriously Injured- Driver Charged with DUI

6/20/24  Driver Charged After Alleged Rollover Crash in Stafford

7/2/24  Driver Charged With DUI After Killing Pedestrian

7/8/24  Alcohol Deemed Factor in Fatal Bedford Crash

7/14/24 Virginia State Police Report 6 Fatalities- Make 95 Arrests for DUI/DUID- Over July 4 Holiday Period

Victim Services Note from Isabelle Rhinehart:

Hi there! This month, I’d like to touch on one of our supportive services offered here at the MADD Mid-Atlantic Region. Joanne, our Regional Manager of Victim Services in Maryland, and myself host a monthly virtual support group through Microsoft Teams. The group offers dedicated time and space for victims and survivors of impaired driving. Folks can share their experience, listen to others, and support one another. These meetings are at no cost and participation is completely voluntary. We would love to see you there. If you have any questions or would like to connect, please email me at [email protected].

Calendar - 

9/11/24 - MADD Mid-Atlantic Monthly Virtual Support Group via Teams at 1:00 pm

Meeting Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NTY1ZDI2YTAtMTIzYS00NjU4LThmOTctMTVkZDdmZmEyMGJk%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

Meeting ID: 238 893 583 915

Passcode: Lib7pu

 

9/28/24 - Walk Like MADD Richmond

MADD Around Virginia

MADD volunteer Susan Vandenburgh thanked officers at a Henrico County Police checkpoint briefing on June 21. Officers received free sandwich coupons from Mission BBQ.

Regional Program Manager, Jennifer Hamilton, at VADETS Conference on July 7th.  This conference is for Driver's Ed Teachers and Driving Schools.

MADD volunteer Latoya shares the story of the impaired driving crash in which her aunts were killed with participants in the Chesterfield Sheriff’s Office Virginia Rules Summer Camp for Middle School age students.

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