MADD projects drunk driving deaths may surge 40 percent this Labor Day weekend
(San Antonio) — Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is projecting that drunk driving deaths could surge by as much as 40 percent this Labor Day weekend. MADD officials say the stat is based on the most recent data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
MADD State Program Manager Emma Dugas says they want to remind everyone that they can choose to not drink and drive.
“Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest times of travel in the year. We want to educate the public to stay safe and to plan ahead. Usually with holidays, there’s always celebrations and gatherings as well, and a lot of alcohol is served at these gatherings. We encourage the public to plan ahead for a safe ride home and always use a non-drinking driver — and not the person that has drank the least amount of alcohol. Any amount of alcohol in your system, can impair you. We want everyone to get home safe,” said Dugas.
Dugas says there are several steps that people can take to make sure that they don’t drink and drive. She says it all starts with having a plan before you ever leave the house.
“When you do go out to gatherings or you have a party, one of the main things is…that you have that plan in place. Whether it’s a significant other or a friend that’s going to not drink, and that can get you home safe; or if you’re going to a friend’s house, make plans to maybe stay the night. Maybe you didn’t plan on drinking and then you ended up drinking — then you (still) need to make that plan. Instead of getting behind the wheel, get a rideshare to get home, or ask the host if you can stay the night. We encourage people who are hosting gatherings to take that responsibility to make sure that all your guests get home safe or have them stay,” said Dugas.
Many people will be celebrating Labor Day this weekend, and many of them will drink and then get behind the wheel. Dugas says that’a bad idea. She says even if you’ve only had a couple of drinks, you should not be driving.
“So many factors go into play when it comes to alcohol. How much you drank, how much you ate that day, how much weigh — there’s so many factors that come into play. The only safe way to get home safely, is to have that designated driver,” said Dugas.
It’s no secret that drinking and driving is not only a bad idea, but it’s also against the law. Yet too many people continue to do it, and that number is expected to go up this Labor Day weekend. Dugas says it’s frustrating that people don’t heed their warnings, but she says they feel like it’s important to keep sharing this message, because that’s one of the big ways to begin to change the culture of drinking and driving.
“Alcohol is prevalent. It’s everywhere. It is one of the most advertised drugs on the market. Everyone sees it, and it’s in almost every home. Even though we know it’s against the law to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol — alcohol is just so normalized (that people still do it). As an adult growing up in that type of culture where it is normal, it can be perceived as ‘I’m okay, I’ll be alright getting home,”’ said Dugas.
She says just because you’ve not been caught in the past, it doesn’t mean that you should continue to drink and drive.
“The average drunk driver will drive over 80 times before they are caught for the first time. So if they go home safe those 80 times before, you almost feel like you’re invincible,” said Dugas.
MADD’s Labor Day weekend warning comes on top of some other troubling statistics, including a 27 percent year-round increase in deaths caused by drunk driving since 2018, with someone in the U.S. now killed or injured in a drunk driving crash every 79 seconds. In 2021, 1,134 people in Texas were killed and 2,565 seriously injured due to drunk driving.
MADD is working with law enforcement agencies across the state to try to reverse this trend. Several agencies are beefing up their patrols of Texas highways and roadways this weekend in an attempt to stop people from drinking and driving.
MADD officials say if you, or someone you love, has been the victim of impaired driving, support is available at no cost 24 hours a day via the MADD Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP (1-877-623-3435) or www.MADD.org.