New NHTSA Campaign

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it is launching a new initiative to combat drug-impaired driving, a growing problem on U.S. roads. Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) is against the law in all 50 states. With a national opioid epidemic and states legalizing marijuana, NHTSA is making the drug-impaired-driving problem a top priority to ensure U.S. roads, communities and families are safe from impaired drivers. NHTSA is looking to develop creative solutions to improve safety and reduce deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes. More information at the NHTSA website.

Checkpoint Strikeforce Kickoff in VA

Governor Ralph Northam and the Virginia DMV are joining with state and local police to kick off the 17th annual Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign. 

Checkpoint Strikeforce describes the period of increased enforcement to combat the rise in drunk driving deaths during Labor Day weekend. It will take place from August 17 through Labor Day weekend, and resume periodically during holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Eve.

“Virginia is a leader in traffic safety and the work of Checkpoint Strikeforce is a critical part of our efforts,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “While we have continued to reduce the amount of fatalities on our roads, those statistics are cold comfort to the families who have lost loved ones to drunk driving. The work we do over the next few months will be to save lives—plain and simple.”

View and share the 2018 Virginia Checkpoint Strikeforce ad campaign video, “Old Enough to Drink - Act Like It” .  See more Checkpoint Strikeforce videos here.

Calendar

MADD Regional Law Enforcement Awards Are Coming Up!

• 8/23/18 Virginia Beach
• 9/5/18 Harrisonburg
• 9/7/18 Roanoke
• 9/10/18 Peninsula
• 9/13/18 Abingdon
• 9/19/18 Northern Virginia
• 9/20/18 Staunton/Charlottesville
• 9/28/18 Stratford Hall

Does your law enforcement agency participate? If not, contact Jamie.jarrard@madd.org for more information.

10/13/18 - Northern VA Walk Like MADD/MADD Dash - in Herndon. Volunteers Needed! Contact jennifer.hamilton@madd.org.  There is a Sneaker Drive to support MADD in conjunction with the WALK. We need volunteers to help coordinate this! Contact jennifer.hamilton@madd.org.

10/23-31/18 - Red Ribbon Week 2018. Contact cristi.cousins@madd.org to partner with MADD in your community.

11/19/18 - Richmond Candlelight Vigil, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Pictures from last year.

12/4/18 - Virginia Beach Candlelight Vigil, Founders Inn. Pictures from last year.

Impaired Driving Stories in the News                

8/14/18 Eddie Severance, 27, Culpeper

8/11/18  Alexander Lloyd, 24, Prince William

8/4/18 Nathan O’Quinn, 29, Dickenson County

8/3/18 Daniel James Hoage, 36, Newport News

7/20/18 Jennifer Buckles, 43, Rockingham

Virginia Man Convicted in Crash that Seriously Injured Maryland Woman

MADD Around VA

Death Notification Training – Chesterfield Police Training Academy

Power of Youth Presentation- Dickenson County