ILLUMINATE MADD CALIFORNIA: HONORING VICTIMS OF DRUNK AND DRUGGED DRIVING

25 Nov ILLUMINATE MADD CALIFORNIA: HONORING VICTIMS OF DRUNK AND DRUGGED DRIVING

***MEDIA ADVISORY***
Pre-event and onsite interviews are available upon request.

Media Advisory for Illuminate MADD California, California

— In 2022, 13,524 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, a less than 1% decrease from 2021. —

WHAT:             

Illuminate MADD California is an initiative organized in 2022 by MADD California. This campaign aims to honor and remember the victims of drunk and drugged driving by illuminating landmarks, buildings, and homes in red. The color red, MADD’s signature color, symbolizes the courage and strength of the victims and their families.

This occasion will signify the kickoff of the holiday season, highlighting efforts to save lives during one of the most dangerous times of the year on our nation’s roadways—the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

The campaign also serves as a call to action to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving, promote safer traffic measures, and encourage responsible hosting, especially during a time when incidents of impaired driving increase. By lighting up landmarks in red, MADD hopes to remind the community of the importance of safe driving practices and to support its mission of eliminating drunk and drugged driving.

WHEN:             

Friday, December 13, 2024

WHERE:

California State

INVITATION FOR THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE:

Join MADD as we honor and remember, in solidarity, all the victims whose lives have been forever changed by this 100% preventable crime. MADD California is inviting families and community partners to join us by illuminating a special place at home or place of business in red to support all those who have been affected by drunk and drugged driving.

Link to participate:

https://tinyurl.com/IlluminateMADDCA2024

SOCIAL MEDIA / SUBMIT PHOTOS BY DECEMBER 15TH:

MADD welcomes you to share photos and/or videos of your special illuminated areas on social media by tagging @MADDCalifornia on Facebook/Instagram with the hashtags #OneMADDCalifornia, #RedforMADDCA, and #ImpairedDrivingEndsHere. MADD California would love to share your photos or videos on social media. If you wish to participate, please submit by Sunday, December 15th, at the end of the day.

WHY:               

• In 2022, 13,524 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, a less than 1% decrease from 2021.
• Drunk driving deaths account for one-third (33%) of all traffic-related deaths in California.
• 2 out of 3 people will be impacted by drunk driving in their lifetime.
• Every 78 seconds, someone is killed or injured in a drunk driving crash.
• Every 39 minutes, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash.
• Every day, 37 people are killed in drunk driving crashes.
• Drunk driving deaths have increased by 31% over the past decade.
• Drunk driving killed more than 13,000 people for the second year in a row, according to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). An estimated 13,524 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 2022.
• Alcohol-related crashes claimed 32% of all traffic deaths in 2022, up from 31% in 2021.
• Drunk driving deaths have increased 33% since 2019, after a decade of 10,000 alcohol-related fatalities per year and record lows of 9,878 and 9,943 in 2011 and 2014, respectively.
• The economic toll of impaired driving in 2021 alone was a staggering $58 billion.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is a national nonprofit leading the movement to end impaired driving for good. Since 1980, MADD has helped reduce drunk driving deaths in America by nearly 40%, saved more than 475,000 lives, and served more than one million victims and survivors. The organization is committed to leading prevention efforts with young adults, collaborating with law enforcement to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers, as well as advocating for stricter sentencing and stronger laws, including the HALT Act that mandates anti-drunk driving technology in every new car. MADD continues to provide support services to victims and survivors of impaired driving at no charge through victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. For more information or to donate, visit https://madd.org/ and follow MADD on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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CONTACT:        

Patricia Rillera, MADD California State Executive Director

(714) 838-6199 ext. 6654 / pat.rillera@madd.org