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May 7, 2008

MADD Sponsors Charity Walk to Eliminate Drunk Driving

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.-- Walk Like MADD (formerly known as Strides for Change), the signature walk of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), is a fun, community-driven 5K event that raises funds and saves lives.

Every step taken and every dollar raised supports MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, which calls for ignition interlocks for all drunk drivers and increased enforcement in the form of sobriety checkpoints and/or saturation patrols.

WHO:
Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange
Glynn Birch, MADD National President
Gil Coerper, Huntington City Councilman

WHEN:
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Walk begins at 9 a.m.
Ignition interlock demonstrations at 8:15 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:
Huntington City Beach


WHY: MADD served 46,000 victims/survivors in 2007 and aims to eliminate drunk driving. Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime. In 2006, 1,276 people were killed in California in drunk driving crashes. Nationally, nearly 13,500 people were killed in crashes where the driver had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

ACTIVITIES: Alcohol ignition interlock demonstration, pledge signing, simulated rescue, law enforcement vehicle displays, kid's area, and a health and safety fair.

LEARN MORE: Those interested in participating or becoming a virtual walker can log on to www.walklikemadd.org.

ABOUT: Multiple studies on interlocks for both first-time and repeat offenders show decreases in repeat offenses up to 90 percent while the interlock is on the vehicle.(1) Unfortunately, data from 2003 indicates that judges in California only required 3.8 percent of all convicted drunk drivers to install an ignition interlock each year. California's state legislature is currently considering lifesaving legislation, AB 2784, that would require all convicted drunk drivers, including those facing their first conviction, to install an alcohol ignition interlock on their vehicle.

Founded in 1980, MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. For more information, please visit www.madd.org or call (800) GET-MADD.

Source: Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Posted by Frank at May 7, 2008 10:29 AM | Filed under Auto Marketing | Auto News | Car Tech | Safety