Staying Safe on the Road: Interview with Judy Utter of MADD

Earlier this month, we sat down with Judy Utter, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Services Specialist, to talk about their victim services program and how to plan ahead for holiday celebrations.

What is MADD’s mission?

MADD’s mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and to prevent under aged drinking.

What services does MADD provide for victims of drunk driving?

Our victims’ services vary depending on what our victims need. First of all we provide information on community resources that can assist the victims’ specific needs or emergency funding, and we attend court with victims if they want to be involved in the judicial process. We also have lots of grief materials that help victims cope with the grief and the emotions that surround a DUI. We have support groups in many of our offices including Sacramento, and I have facilitated one here for about 20 years. We are just generally available to listen to the victims and help them move forward from the crash.

What preventative programs are offered for under aged drivers?

We have three main focuses for educating under aged drivers. First we have our “Power of Parents” program that helps parents con verse with their teen about the issue of drinking. We also have a “Power of Teens” program which helps teen understand the reasons why 21 is the legal drinking age. Lastly we have our “Start Making a Right Turn” program which help teens who are in a crisis or who are on the edge by interacting with the teen and parents together to help get them back to the right path.

What is something that most people don’t know about drunk driving?

Be Safe, Not Sorry

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

“Impaired driving” is most commonly attributed to 

alcohol and/or drugs, but also includes potentially deadly 

distracted driving habits.

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. Given that impaired driving accounts for nearly one-third of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes in the United States each year, and that we typically see a spike in alcohol and drug related auto accidents during the holiday season, it is imperative to once again address this violent crime.

Last year, CalVCP received nearly 850 claims for crimes involving impaired drivers and provided $1.4 million in assistance for related medical expenses, mental health bills, and funeral/burial costs. Fatalities caused by impaired driving are 100-percent preventable, but eliminating them requires active vigilance from everyone. This, of course, means refraining from driving while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription medications, or over-the-counter medications. You don’t have to forgo the holiday festivities, but you should always plan ahead. Be sure to designate a driver at the beginning of the night, whether it be a sober friend or one of the many safe ride programs available throughout the state. For example, AAA’s Tipsy Tow offers members and nonmembers a free tow home on select holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.

Last year, CalVCP received nearly 850 claims for crimes involving impaired drivers and provided $1.4 million in assistance for related medical expenses, mental health bills, and funeral/burial costs. 

While “impaired driving” is most commonly attributed to alcohol and/or drugs, the term is rapidly evolving beyond the traditional definition of driving under the influence to encompass distracted and potentially deadly habits such as texting or making phone calls without a proper Bluetooth accessory. To thwart the increasing temptation for drivers to multitask on the road, AT&T has publicly spearheaded the “It Can Wait” campaign, a nationwide anti-texting effort complete with mobile app, which allows users to set a customizable autoreply text message similar to an “out of office” alert.

With the many cost-free resources available to Californians, there is absolutely no excuse for drunk, drugged, or distracted driving. In addition to putting your life and others at grave risk, a reckless driving ticket or DUI conviction will burn your bank account, mar your DMV record, and inflate your insurance rates – it’s not worth it! Join me this month, and every day of the year, in pledging to eliminate impaired driving, and to keep our roads and our families safe this holiday season.

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Julie Nauman is the Executive Officer for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB). VCGCB provides compensation for victims of violent crime and helps to resolve claims against the State.

Driving Safely During the Holidays

By Joe Farrow, Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol

The holiday season is upon us which typically comes with travel to celebrate with family and friends. This is a joyous time of year, but too often what we in law enforcement see amid the fun and frivolity, is tragedy that occurs as the result of poor decisions made behind the wheel.

Alcohol was the primary collision factor in more than a dozen fatal collisions and in numerous injury crashes during the 2011 holiday period.

Last year during the Christmas holiday, 14 people lost their lives in motor vehicle collisions; another 25 during the New Year’s holiday. Sadly, more than half of those killed in the jurisdiction patrolled by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) were not wearing seatbelts. While seatbelts may have saved the lives of these vehicle occupants, alcohol was the primary collision factor in more than a dozen fatal collisions and in numerous injury crashes during the 2011 holiday period. In each of those cases, someone chose to get behind the wheel of an automobile after having too much to drink. Victim advocates know all too well the heartache and grief that follows in these cases, and we are thankful the Victim Compensation Program is there to help surviving victims and family members of those who are killed in these senseless collisions.

The CHP and law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force again this holiday season to assist motorists and to prevent additional tragedies from occurring on our roadways. Each holiday season, law enforcement officers arrest hundreds of people who are driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. These motorists present a risk not only to themselves, but also to those sharing the roadway with them. The CHP, local law enforcement, the Office of Traffic Safety, and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration are joining together in the coming days to remind motorists to keep safety in mind during the holidays.

Motorists can help keep the roads safe by following these simple steps:

• Always buckle up and secure children in a proper child safety seat.
• Never drink and drive. If you are going to celebrate, designate a driver, use public transportation or make arrangements to stay where you are for the night. Remember, alcohol impairs people differently, and even a small amount of alcohol may be enough for a motorist’s driving to be affected.
• Being sleepy or fatigued can have a similar effect on a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle. If you are traveling long distances, plan ahead, and get plenty of rest before driving.
• Obey the traffic rules and drive defensively.
• If you see a suspected drunk driver on the road, call 911 to report the motorist to law enforcement.
• Finally, eliminate distractions inside the vehicle.

I wish you all happy holidays and safe travels wherever your celebration may take you.

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On March 1, 2008, then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Joseph A. Farrow Commissioner of the CHP, and was later reappointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2011. Currently, Commissioner Farrow commands more than 7,800 uniformed 3,600 non-uniformed, 700 senior volunteers, and 200 Explorer personnel, and oversees a budget of $1.9 billion.
Commissioner Farrow is recognized for his innovative leadership approach in public administration, such as implementing the California Law Enforcement Challenge, effecting the CHP’s accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, and creating an Office of Inspector General to ensure accountability and transparency of the Department.

Drunk and Drugged Driving: An Ongoing Threat

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

We at CalVCP greatly admire the work of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Since their founding in 1980, MADD has made extraordinary progress in educating people about the tragic consequences of impaired driving. Unfortunately, too many still make the irresponsible, foolish choice to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Despite MADD’s incredible efforts over the past 30 years, nearly 1.5 million drivers were still arrested for DUI in 2010 across America.

From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

California has tried taking away impaired drivers’ licenses; 50-75% drive anyway. California has passed legislation requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers in four counties: Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Tulare. Still, it is not enough. One out of every three traffic deaths still involves drunk driving, and, statistically, one in three people will be involved in a DUI crash in their lifetime.

As we commemorate National Drunk and Drugged Driving Month throughout December, and especially during this busy holiday season, CalVCP encourages everyone to reflect on what remains one of the deadliest crimes in the United States.

We see the faces of those families and loved ones left behind. We see the victims of impaired driving.

Last year, CalVCP processed nearly 850 claims from victims of impaired drivers. We provided nearly $750,000 in assistance for medical and mental health bills and burial costs. These aren’t just numbers; these are lives that are changed forever due to a crime that should never have happened. In our work with MADD, we see the faces of those families and loved ones left behind. We see the victims of impaired driving.

Law enforcement is crucial to keeping us safe; organizations like MADD and CalVCP are essential for taking care of the victims of crime; but it falls to you, the citizens of California, to stop impaired driving for good. Through awareness we can put an end to this devastating crime.

Here’s how you can save lives this holiday season:

• Prior to drinking, designate a sober driver or plan to use a cab.
• Assist an impaired person in securing a cab.
• Never allow your friends to drive impaired. Take their keys away. It could mean their life or someone else’s.
• Do not serve alcohol to an intoxicated person or a person under the age of 21.
• Make arrangements for nearby accommodations, if needed.
• Plan safe parties: provide non-alcoholic drink options to guests, assist in identifying designated drivers, and stop serving alcohol the last hour of the party.
• Be prepared to get everyone home safely in case your plans or circumstances change.

Thank you for doing your part to keep the roads safe.

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Julie Nauman is the Executive Officer for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB). VCGCB provides compensation for victims of violent crime and helps to resolve claims against the State.

Celebrate Responsibly | Tips from MADD

By Brenda Frachiseur, MADD California Executive Director

Summertime is here and the Fourth of July is traditionally a time to celebrate vacations and family togetherness; however, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) warns that it can also be a dangerous time for those traveling on California roads. In 2010, 155 people were killed nationwide in drunk driving crashes over the holiday weekend, and 80 percent of those crashes took place at night, between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. These were people whose lives have been forever impacted and whose summer vacations and celebrations will no longer be fond memories. Tragically, their deaths and injuries were 100% preventable.

In 2010, 155 people were killed nationwide in drunk driving crashes over the holiday weekend, and 80 percent of those crashes took place at night, between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m.

Too many of us at MADD know the pain of losing a loved one in a drunk driving crash, so it’s our hope that by drawing attention to the increased dangers associated with a holiday like the Fourth of July, we can save other families the heartache and devastation caused by drunk driving. The next couple of months are sure to be filled with BBQ’s, informal get-togethers, and special family traditions. MADD encourages people to plan ahead for a safe way home if their plans include alcohol.

MADD would like to encourage you to consider a few ideas and take the simple steps necessary to keep your traditions and your loved ones alive. These simple tips will ensure your celebrations do not turn into tragedies.

As a party giver, perhaps one of your most important responsibilities is to plan for your guests’ safety after the party.  Don’t overlook some of these simple but crucial details:

• Avoid making alcohol the main focus of the party.  Entertain guests with outdoor games, food, and lively conversation.
• Be sure to offer plenty of non-alcoholic choices such as “mocktails”, sparkling water and soft drinks.
• Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the end of the event.  Instead, serve coffee and desserts.
• Never serve alcohol to anyone under 21.
• Recruit designated drivers before the party begins.
• Offer your place to spend the night.
• Have everyone drop their keys in a basket when they arrive and only return the keys to sober drivers.
• BE PREPARED TO TAKE THE KEYS!

As a party goer, planning is the key:

• Decide to be the Designated Driver.
• Consider going with a group of friends and designate a sober driver before the celebration begins.
• Take a cab, public transportation, or rent a limo.
• Have the number of a taxi service in your pocket before heading out (some companies even provide free taxi services during holidays).

 With just a few precautions, your parties can be fun, safe and memorable for all the right reasons.

A final thought - as part of the nationwide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on drunk driving around the Fourth of July, California law enforcement will be intensifying their efforts to deter and detect drunk driving, in order to prevent these needless deaths and injuries.

Be safe and enjoy our Nation’s birthday!

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Brenda Frachiseur is the Executive Director of MADD California. As one of the largest victim services organizations in the U.S., MADD supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every eight minutes through local MADD victim advocates. For more information about MADD California, visit www.maddcalifornia.org.

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

The month of December brings many holiday celebrations that often include alcohol. Consequently, December tends to produce more than average intoxicated drivers carelessly sharing our roads.

In an effort to spread public awareness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and several other agencies have named December "National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month," a campaign created to educate the community about the seriousness of driving under the influence of substances and its devastating consequences.

Every time we drive, we are unfortunately faced with the possibility of falling victim to an impaired driver’s rash mistake. According to NHTSA, three out of every ten Americans will be involved in a motor vehicle accident involving drunk driving during their lives. Accidents related to drunk and drugged driving claim the lives of thousands of Americans every year and have become one of the deadliest crimes in America today. Impaired drivers continue to roam our streets and put the lives of our family and friends at risk.

In response, CalVCP has joined the campaign to spread public awareness. As an agency dedicated to assisting victims of crimes, we would like you to know that victims of drunk and drugged driving accidents are able to receive compensation through our program. CalVCP has helped 809 drunk and drugged driving victims and paid an estimated $2.8 million since January 2010. Our claimants received compensation that covered mental health treatment, income and support loss, medical bills, funeral costs, and rehabilitation.

CalVCP is committed to creating healthier communities and we would like to offer you ways to fight back against drunk and drugged driving. The NHTSA has provided tips for those hosting or attending holiday parties:

• Include a reminder about selecting a designated driver in your invitation.
• If you are going to serve alcohol, be certain to offer guests non-alcoholic drinks as well.
• Ensure that all guests leave with a sober driver; if necessary, call a taxi for a guest or even take their keys. Remember, “Friends don’t let friends drink and drive."
• Dial 911 if you see any suspicious drivers.

Please play your part this year in spreading awareness of drunk and drugged driving. And remember, don’t let drunk and drugged driving prevention be a seasonal concern; our communities should work together to help prevent these tragedies all year long.