November 2020 e-newsletter

The COVID Pandemic Has Not Stopped Impaired Driving

 

On average, over 45% of the crashes on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are alcohol-related.  While the amount of traffic has been down during COVID, preliminary data is showing that impaired driving crashes are up.  And more concerning, NHTSA studies have found an alarming increase in the presence of other drugs like marijuana, prescription drugs, and cocaine IN ADDITION to alcohol in crash victims since the pandemic started – raising fears that this upcoming holiday season could be even more dangerous.

 

What can you do? It is so simple!!  Plan your safe ride home BEFORE you start drinking. Make sure your friends and family do the same! See MADD’s Safe Party Tips here.

 

MADD’s Tie One On For Safety National Partner, Waymo, and MADD VA local partner, Richmond Ford, are asking everyone to show their commitment to keeping themselves and our communities safe by designating a non-drinking driver and displaying a MADD Tie One On for Safety red ribbon or magnetic decal on their vehicles. Get a ribbon or magnet at the Richmond Ford West showroom (10751 W Broad St., Glen Allen, VA) or contact MADD VA at va.state@madd.org.

 

Calendar

 

12/3/20 9 am - MADD VA Tie One On For Safety Kickoff

Watch on MADD VA Facebook Live

 

12/8/20 6 pm - MADD Online Support group via Zoom. 

This session's topic: Let’s Get Real About Self-Care

Link: https://madd.zoom.us/j/91097099232... 

Meeting ID: 910 9709 9232

Password: 397693

One tap mobile+13017158592,91097099232#

Questions ? contact robin.stimpson@madd.org

Impaired Driving Stories in the News

10/30/20 Jashion Jameel Brooks, 24, Virginia Beach

10/30/20 Justin Richard Myers, 32, Accomack County

11/03/20  Lorenzo St. John, 24, Norfolk

11/04/20  Kevin Jennings, 45, Chesterfield

11/9/20  Paul Floyd Stone , 51, Norfolk

11/11/20 Thomas Wesley McGraw, 71, Scott County 

11/14/20  Claudia Casanova, 29, Louisa County

11/14/20 Michael Melvin, 44, Tazewell County

11/14/20 Trinity Akia Robinson, 23, Lynchburg

11/20/20 Earl Franklin Garnett, 57, Caroline County

MADD Around VA

CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to Susan Baldassari! It is her fourth year as the top fundraiser for Walk Like MADD- Northern Virginia.  Sue’s team raised $1719 this year. Sue has been volunteering and raising money for MADD VA since 1999. In 1998, as she was driving home after returning a video in Fairfax, a drunk driver struck her car head-on.  His car then spun around and hit hers a second time.  Her recovery was long and required many surgeries. The crash and its aftereffects were especially difficult for her young children. When she was able, she quickly turned to make a difference and called MADD.  Sue shared some pictures with us from her many years with MADD. One of the highlights was a trip to the White House for the Tie One On For Safety (TOOFS) Kickoff where she met Hilary Clinton! Thank you, Sue, for your MANY years of devotion to ending impaired driving in Virginia!

In October, volunteer Tammy Roy Duffy went aboard the USS Eisenhower to record a video of the story of her daughter Kaitlyn’s death that will be shared with over 5000 sailors.