WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) volunteers and staff will team up with nearly 250 law enforcement departments across the country on August 24 for MADD's first nationwide "Saturation Saturday."
From New York to Florida to California, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and many other states in between, MADD will join law enforcement departments for a massive DUI enforcement effort to remind everyone that if you drive drunk or impaired by other drugs, you will get caught. In some states, such as Missouri, Florida and Colorado, MADD volunteers and staff are collaborating with as many as 40 to 60 law enforcement agencies.
"Saturation Saturday is intended to overwhelm the nation with the message to never drive impaired, and to show our appreciation for the tough work law enforcement officers do every day to stop the violent, preventable crime of drunk and drug-impaired driving," said MADD National President Helen Witty. "We know that the days before Labor Day weekend are among the most heavily traveled and can be the most dangerous on our roads for the general public and for law enforcement. We want to stand with them to remind everyone that these waning days of summer are a time for fun, not tragedy."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sobriety checkpoints reduce drunk driving deaths by 20%. Saturation Saturday events will include sobriety checkpoints, increased DUI patrols and other enforcement aimed at preventing impaired driving and catching those who make the wrong choice. MADD staff and volunteers will participate in law enforcement roll calls, checkpoints and ride-alongs to reinforce enforcement activities.
MADD's Saturation Saturday is scheduled to fall right in the middle of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. NHTSA's $13 million Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, long supported by MADD, helps fund increased drunk driving enforcement and advertising from August 16 through Labor Day.
Support for high-visibility law enforcement is one of the key elements of MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, launched in 2006. MADD advocates for funding for NHTSA's Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over events, which occur every year in August and December, and Click It or Ticket in May. The other elements of MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving include passing laws to require ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders, support for advanced vehicle technology and taking personal responsibility by using Uber, public transportation, taxi or designating a non-drinking friend or family member if plans include alcohol.
To follow events throughout the day, follow MADD on Twitter at @maddonline or on Facebook at @MADD.Official. Look for the hashtag #SaturationSaturday.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation's largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save nearly 380,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit http://www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.
SOURCE MADD
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