it doesn't have to be like this.

It's not too late.
Turn off the engine,
get out of the car,
and start to walk.

Invite your friends and spread the word.

In 2019, 10,142 people were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes, and hundreds of thousands more were seriously injured. According to preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for the first nine months of 2020, traffic fatalities increased by 5 percent even though the number of vehicle miles traveled decreased by 15 percent. (NHTSA, 2020). This tragic increase in roadway fatalities is one of the biggest hikes in a generation, and it shows the fight against impaired driving is far from over.
- Letter from MADD National President Alex Otte (“MADD response NHTSA RFI,” Mothers Against Drunk Driving Edition Two, 2021,)

Drunk driving is getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or above. Driving drunk is also referred to as driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI).

Any amount of alcohol in your bloodstream can impact your driving ability. The effects of alcohol abuse vary greatly, putting you at risk for causing an accident or road injury. Safe driving requires the ability to concentrate, make good judgements, and quickly react to situations. However, alcohol affects these skills, putting yourself and others in danger.

Your choices can lead to devastating consequences. Driving drunk is often the result of alcohol intoxication causing poor judgment, false sense of confidence, and a failure of self-control while impaired. To prevent these bad choices, it's crucial to plan ahead for a sober ride before drinking, as options like designated drivers, rideshares, taxis, or public transport are all safer alternatives than driving under the influence. If someone around you is about to drive drunk, try to intervene by suggesting other options or enlist other friends to help.

A few minutes of planning can prevent a lifetime of consequences.

Don't drink and drive. Your choices save lives.

It will ruin your life, and potentially others'.

*If you are feeling suicidal or you believe your safety is in danger, you are strongly encouraged to contact a suicide hotline (988), visit www.suicide.org, or in an emergency, dial 911 or your local emergency number.*