April 2021 e-newsletter

In Virginia, effective July 1, possession of up to an ounce of marijuana will be legal for people 21 and older. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants all marijuana users to know that regardless of whether marijuana is legal, drug-impaired driving poses a threat to the driver, passengers, and other road users.

According to NHTSA, between 2009 and 2018, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested for marijuana, the presence of marijuana had nearly doubled.
In 2018, 46% of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive.
If you think driving while high from marijuana won’t affect you, you are wrong: It has been shown that marijuana can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.
Your best defense against impaired drivers on the road is your seat belt. Wear it on every trip, and make sure your passengers do, too.

Learn more about drugged driving here and read the MADD Cannabis report here.

MADD Calls for Passage of RIDE Act to Require Lifesaving Technology in All New Cars

“The RIDE Act holds the potential to eliminate drunk driving forever and it is one of the most important initiatives in MADD’s 40-year history,” said MADD National President Alex Otte. “Drunk driving is the leading killer on America’s roads, accounting for more than a quarter of all traffic deaths and injuring 300,000 people every year. On behalf of the nearly 1 million victims MADD has served, I thank Senator Luján and Senator Scott for leading this effort in the Senate.”

More about the RIDE Act in the press release here.

Message from Regional Executive Director Roderick Howard

I guess it is true by the saying- time flies when you are having goal motivated fun. It seems like the first month (of many to come) of my time here at MADD has passed very fast. The first thirty (30) days has been filled with researching, learning, connecting with volunteers and Staff and the start of planning our future here in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

With the regionalization of DC, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia we are positioned to not only enhance current operations, programs, advocacy, and relationships, but we are headed in the direction to achieve more and make a larger impact to help end Impaired Driving which will ultimately save lives.

The staff and volunteers of the Mid-Atlantic region have completed a great deal of work over the past few years, so I am looking forward to continued success in the coming year(s). On April 20, 2021, all state and regional leaders (Field Operations) gathered to embark on our new strategy and plan for the next 2-4 years. During this process, I will be including staff, volunteers, and stakeholders in the process of establishing the new Mid Atlantic Strategic Plan and what we want to accomplish in the established timeframe.

Over the course of the next year(s), we will embark on our new Strategic Plan with a focus on expansion, quality, and engagement by putting specific and measurable goals in place.

If there is anything we can do to best support our victims and stakeholders, please do not hesitate to reach to me at Roderick.howard@madd.org

May is the Beginning of the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer for Teens

Did you know that …

In 2018, the latest year for which data are available, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death among 13-19 year-old females and one of the leading causes of death among 13-19 year-old males.
In 2019, 57 percent of the deaths of teenage passengers in passenger vehicles occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 13 percent occurred when a teenager was driving.

Source: https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/teenagers

We can help you prepare!

We offer underage drinking prevention workshops for youth and for parents. See the schedule workshops below or contact cristi.cousins@madd.org to schedule a presentation for 1 or 100!!

Calendar

5/6/21 Youth Underage Drinking/Impaired Driving Prevention Workshop via Zoom - 5:15 - 6:00pm

Parent Underage Drinking/Impaired Driving Prevention Workshop via Zoom - 6:30 - 7:15pm

Contact: cristi.cousins@madd.org to register.

5/7/21 Volunteer Mini Orientation via Zoom: 12-1pm

Contact: cristi.cousins@madd.org to register.

5/11/21 Virtual Support Group via Zoom: 6-7pm

This support group is offered the 2nd Tuesday of every month.

Contact: robin.stimson@madd.org

5/12/21 Volunteer Mini Orientation via Zoom: 6-7pm

Contact: cristi.cousins@madd.org to register.

5/22/21 Loudoun Walk Like MADD and Silent Auction

Contact: maddloudoun@aol.com

8/28/21 Virginia Walk Like MADD – Want to volunteer, walk, or be a sponsor?

Contact : va.state@madd.org

9/18/21 Maryland Walk Like MADD – Want to volunteer, walk, or be a sponsor?

Contact : Bryna.ClarkBraverman@madd.org

Impaired Driving Stories in the News

4/22/21 Push For Laws to Combat Drunk Driving

4/19/21 Speed and Alcohol Believed Factors in Fatal Franklin County Crash

4/10/21 Danny Ray Upton, 36, Dinwiddie

4/4/21 Victorino Mondragon, 29, Fauquier

3/27/21 Ronald David, 62, Pittsylvania

2/24/21 Marvin Audie Rollins, 62, Hopewell

MADD Around VA

4/14/21 -Victim Volunteer Presentation to 180 JMU SafeRides meeting attendees.

Susan Cleveland of MADD Loudoun has been a MADD Virginia volunteer since 1989! She was recently recognized for her accomplishments related to Walk Like MADD Loudoun and the MADD Court monitoring program. Thank you Susan!

You can register for Walk Like MADD Loudoun here and read the MADD 2021 Court Report here

Did You know that there is a victim support library available on MADD’s website? You can print copies of any of our excellent victim support publications in English or Spanish. #NoMoreVictims