MADD, Takata and NHTSA Join to Stop the Holiday Highway Death Toll From Impaired Driving and Lack of Seat Belt Use
State-By-State Breakout of Alcohol-Related And Unrestrained Deaths in 2002 Included
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- Last year during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday season, 2,464 people died in alcohol-related crashes or crashes in which safety belts were not used. In front of an 80-foot backdrop photo representing the more than 2,000 Americans who could die this holiday season, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), seat belt manufacturer Takata and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) kicked off the 17th annual MADD Tie One On For Safety holiday ribbon campaign.
"This is a national tragedy of enormous scope made worse by the fact that it is 100 percent preventable," said Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D., Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Secretary Norman Mineta and I are committed to pulling out all the stops to put the full weight of the U.S. Department of Transportation behind reducing fatalities and injuries."
Dr. Runge made his remarks as 22 live bodies walked out of the photo to signify the lives lost last year to this dual highway safety epidemic in the Washington, D.C. area alone. (For a list of the 2002 Thanksgiving to New Year's death toll by state, see the end of this release.)
As America gears up to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, MADD and Takata have joined together to enhance the annual drunk driving prevention campaign for the first time in its history. This year's MADD Tie One On For Safety campaign will spread the word about the need for increased safety belt usage in addition to the dangers of driving drunk or otherwise impaired. The well-known red MADD ribbon now features the image of a buckled safety belt.
December has been designated by Presidential proclamation as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month (3D Month). 3D Month is supported by public- and private-sector organizations committed to preventing crashes caused by impaired driving.
"Last year 17,419 people were killed in crashes involving alcohol -- an average of one every 30 minutes," said MADD President Wendy J. Hamilton, who sadly has had four members of her family, including her sister and young nephew, killed in alcohol-related crashes. "Beyond the tragic death toll, a horrific half a million people are injured in alcohol-related crashes each year. The holiday season is the perfect time for Americans to work together to help keep families together and roadways safer."
According to 2002 data issued this year by NHTSA, traffic fatalities in the United States reached their highest level in 12 years. Alarmingly, alcohol-related traffic deaths have increased for three years in a row- representing 42 percent of all traffic fatalities last year -- while a lack of safety belt usage was blamed for 59 percent of all traffic fatalities. In total, more than 25,000 Americans died in alcohol-related crashes or crashes in which safety belts were not used.
Dr. Runge also unveiled a new departmental plan to address impaired driving, including high visibility traffic enforcement, enhanced support for DWI prosecution and adjudication, and medical screening of high-risk populations for alcohol use problems.
"Like drunk driving, death and injury from a lack of safety belt usage is completely avoidable," said Jim Takada, President of Takata Safety Systems. "Furthermore, a buckled safety belt is the best defense against a drunk driver. We urge all passengers and drivers on the roads this holiday season to buckle up and avoid a potential tragedy."
MADD's Tie One On For Safety campaign program reaches Americans during the holiday season, a time when roadways are heavily traveled and traffic fatalities typically increase. From Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve last year, NHTSA recorded 2,464 fatalities resulting from alcohol-related crashes and/or crashes in which victims were unrestrained.
During the 2003-2004 holiday season, MADD will distribute more than six million ribbons nationally. Ribbons will be distributed by MADD's 600 local chapters and are also available at Mazda retailers across the country. The Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc and Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. are 2003 campaign sponsors.
Additionally, MADD encourages safe driving through its online pledge, available at www.madd.org . Between Thanksgiving and New Years Eve, MADD hopes to collect 500 signatures a day.
Takata, premiere sponsor of Tie One On For Safety, is a safety belt manufacturer and provider of integrated safety systems. Takata's products include seat belts, air bags systems and steering wheels. U.S. operations are headquartered in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Michigan. Takata's Web site is: www.takata.com .
Founded in 1980, MADD is a non-profit organization with 2 million members and supporters nationwide. MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. For more information, visit www.madd.org .
Alcohol-Related and Unrestrained Fatalities:
Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve 2002*
State Total AR Total Fatalities Total AR Total AR
Fatalities Who Were Fatalities and
Unrestrained Who Were Unrestrained
Unrestrained Fatalities
Alabama 41 55 25 71
Alaska 7 5 3 9
Arizona 33 31 10 54
Arkansas 24 33 12 45
California 148 86 44 190
Colorado 30 42 23 49
Connecticut 12 9 4 17
DC 1 1 - 2
Delaware 5 6 2 9
Florida 138 145 71 212
Georgia 54 56 22 88
Hawaii 4 4 3 5
Idaho 5 12 4 13
Illinois 68 63 31 100
Indiana 31 34 15 50
Iowa 13 21 9 25
Kansas 20 30 15 35
Kentucky 30 47 18 59
Louisiana 34 28 18 44
Maine 1 5 1 5
Maryland 27 17 11 33
Massachusetts 18 22 12 28
Michigan 45 34 17 62
Minnesota 31 38 17 52
Mississippi 31 46 18 59
Missouri 54 71 34 91
Montana 11 20 7 24
Nebraska 13 20 11 22
Nevada 15 19 8 26
New Hampshire 5 7 3 9
New Jersey 29 8 5 32
New Mexico 12 15 8 19
New York 40 39 14 65
North Carolina 67 56 30 93
North Dakota 2 4 2 4
Ohio 46 68 33 81
Oklahoma 21 31 12 40
Oregon 11 10 3 18
Pennsylvania 47 62 24 85
Rhode Island 3 5 2 6
South Carolina 49 56 29 76
South Dakota 12 10 9 13
Tennessee 33 53 19 67
Texas 115 114 51 178
Utah 8 14 4 18
Virginia 27 34 13 48
Washington 25 28 16 37
West Virginia 13 15 8 20
Wisconsin 40 45 28 57
Wyoming 7 8 6 9
Total 1,561 1,688 785 2,464
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration