Summer Safety Advisory: Emphasis on Safety and Celebration during Memorial Weekend
As Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has launched its annual "Safe Summer" campaign. This season-long initiative aims to reduce the number of crashes, fatalities, and injuries caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during high-risk periods such as Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day [1][2].
For Memorial Day weekend specifically, the campaign serves as a call to action, marking a period when law enforcement and advocacy groups ramp up education, enforcement, and outreach activities to encourage responsible driving behaviours. The objectives include promoting the designation of sober drivers, educating the public about the risks and consequences of impaired driving, supporting law enforcement in their efforts, and reducing impaired driving incidents over the summer season [1][3].
MADD encourages Americans to honour fallen service members by making the decision not to drive under the influence. For those planning to celebrate, the organisation urges them to arrange for a sober ride in advance [1]. Similarly, for those enjoying time on the water, MADD advises postponing drinking until back on shore and ensuring a sober captain is always at the helm [1].
The U.S. Coast Guard reports that alcohol continues to be the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents [1]. In 2023, alcohol was responsible for 79 deaths - or 17 percent of all boating fatalities [1]. These alcohol-related traffic fatalities accounted for 43 percent of all roadway fatalities during that time [1].
In addition to its focus on impaired driving, MADD continues to draw attention to the heightened risks faced by teen drivers during the summer break [2]. More than 7,000 people died in crashes involving teen drivers between 2010 and 2019 during the summer months [2]. MADD urges parents to engage in frequent conversations with their teenagers about driving responsibly and provides guidance through its "Power of Parents" handbook [2].
MADD has played a key role in policy advocacy, including support for the HALT Drunk Driving Law [1]. The organisation also provides no-cost support to victims and families affected by impaired driving through trained advocates and a 24-hour help line [3].
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "Click It or Ticket" campaign coincides with MADD's safety message, promoting seatbelt use [1]. Together, these initiatives aim to ensure a safer summer for everyone. Since its founding in 1980, MADD has helped reduce alcohol-related driving deaths in the United States by more than 40 percent [1].
References: [1] MADD. (n.d.). Safe Summer. Retrieved from https://www.madd.org/programs/safe-summer/ [2] MADD. (n.d.). Teen Drinking and Driving. Retrieved from https://www.madd.org/resources/teen-drinking-and-driving/ [3] NHTSA. (n.d.). Click It or Ticket. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/click-it-or-ticket
Science can play a crucial role in understanding the impact of alcohol on health-and-wellness, particularly when it comes to reducing impaired driving incidents and promoting safer summer behaviors. MADD's educational resources and advocacy efforts, such as the "Safe Summer" campaign, often highlight scientific findings about the dangers of drinking and driving to raise awareness and prevent alcohol-related accidents.
