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?

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.

The Cost of Drunk Driving

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

The statistics are absolutely staggering. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-impaired driving is the most frequently committed violent crime in the U.S. It is truly devastating that every minute, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash. NHTSA reports that one in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime and that, on average, someone is killed by a drunk driver every 50 minutes.

In California alone, the most recent Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) report shows that nearly 210,000 DUI arrests were made in 2009. In that same year, there were nearly 1,300 alcohol-involved fatalities in the state. Fortunately, CalVCP is here to help victims of drunk driving. Over the last two years, CalVCP has assisted nearly 3,000 DUI victims and survivors and paid nearly $6.5 million to help these victims. CalVCP provided financial reimbursement for dental care, income and support loss, medical bills, mental health treatment, rehabilitation, relocation, funeral and burial expenses.

CalVCP also works closely with organizations that provide critical services that make a difference in the lives of California violent crime victims. As one of the largest victim service organizations in the U.S., Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is one such nonprofit we proudly partner with and support. CalVCP has been diligent to provide training to their victim advocates on CalVCP assistance to victims of drunk driving, promote events such as Walk Like MADD, and participate in their Annual Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope.

There is hope to this tragic epidemic; drunk driving and its consequences can be prevented. Education and advocacy will help lower California DUI rates. I thank individuals and organizations like MADD who are taking action to make our communities safer.