MADD Nebraska Partners with Governor Heineman and First Lady Ganem to Prevent Drunk Driving During the Holidays and Year-Round

Press Release

Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) and National Presenting Sponsor Nationwide launched the 28th annual Tie One On For Safety holiday red ribbon awareness campaign to prevent drunk driving by designating a non-drinking driver. MADD Nebraska alongside Governor Dave Heineman, First Lady Sally Ganem, a MADD national board member, and Colonel David Sankey of the Nebraska State Patrol held a press conference at the Governor's Residence on November 18th at 9:30 a.m. to kick-off a safe 2014 holiday season.

MADD and Nationwide released a new national survey where participants were asked, "Why do you volunteer to be a designated driver?" and "Why did you chose to be driven home by a designated driver?" The overwhelming response to both questions was "to get home safely," followed by wanting to avoid being arrested for DUI and not wanting to be involved in a drunk driving crash.

"Reasons I was the designated driver"

-I want everyone to get home safely (75 percent)
-I don't want to get arrested for DUI (45 percent)
-I don't want to get in a crash (44 percent)

"Reasons I was driven by the designated driver"

-I want everyone to get home safely (85 percent)
-I don't want to get arrested for DUI (72 percent)
-I don't want to get in a crash (66 percent)

About half of adults (21 and older) surveyed reported having been a designated driver in the past year, while 39 percent have been driven by a designated driver.

"Today, we ask you to make sure you have a designated driver if your celebrations include alcohol, and to make sure your friends and family who enjoy a little too much holiday cheer don't get behind the wheel," said Gov. Heineman.

"As we Tie One On For Safety today, I ask that you think about safe driving decisions and about keeping our youth safe. By making the choice to not provide alcohol to our youth we keep them safe both in our homes and on the roads. Make this holiday memorable for all the right reasons this year," said First Lady and MADD National Board Member Sally Ganem.

"MADD Nebraska knows that it takes more than just a few people making safe choices, so we urge Nebraska residents to lead by example and spread the message of planning ahead for a designated non-drinking driver," said Andrea Frazier, MADD Nebraska"We're honored to join with all of our safety partners across the state to Tie One On For Safety and help make our communities safer during the holiday season and year-round."

As the holiday season quickly approaches, celebrations with friends and family where alcohol is served will be on a rise causing drunk driving fatalities to increase. Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve in 2012, 1,091 people were killed in drunk driving crashes nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

New Year's Day (after all the midnight toasts on New Year's Eve) is the deadliest day of the year for drunk driving on our roadways. A total of 140 people were killed by drunk driving crashes during the New Year's Holiday in 2012 (12/30/2011 -- 1/03/2012).

Beginning December 1 to December 15, MADD supporters and drunk driving victims can post an image on how they display their MADD red ribbon with #myMADDribbon on Facebook and Twitter.

MADD's Tie One On For Safety red ribbons are available at the MADD State Office at 770 N Cotner in Lincoln. To order a MADD red ribbon, or to purchase a red ribbon car magnet with a minimum donation of $10, please visit madd.org/toofs. For safe party tips, visit madd.org/safe-party/.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation's largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. With the help of those who want a safer future, MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® will end this danger on America's roads. PowerTalk 21® is the national day for parents to talk with their kids about alcohol, using the proven strategies of Power of Parents® to reduce the risk of underage drinking. And as one of the largest victim services organizations in the U.S., MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every ten minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-877-MADD-HELP. Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.

About Nationwide

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The company provides customers a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, pet, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and specialty health services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, the Nationwide mark, and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

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