{"id":10084,"date":"2017-11-22T08:38:58","date_gmt":"2017-11-22T08:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madd.org\/?p=10084"},"modified":"2022-06-27T11:35:30","modified_gmt":"2022-06-27T11:35:30","slug":"danger-oncoming-thanksgiving-eve-time-of-increased-drunk-driving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madd.org\/danger-oncoming-thanksgiving-eve-time-of-increased-drunk-driving\/","title":{"rendered":"Danger Oncoming: Blackout Wednesday day of increased drunk driving"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

The turkey is brining.<\/p>\n

The bread is baking.<\/p>\n

And, across the country, families are gathering to celebrate a time of gratitude and togetherness.<\/p>\n

But the next few hours may spread more devastation than you realize.<\/h2>\n

It’s Blackout Wednesday, a day known for an increase in alcohol sales and a spike in people heading out to visit with friends before sitting down with family the next day.\"NHTSA

From 2012 to 2016, drunk driving crashes killed more than 800 people over the long Thanksgiving weekend, making it the deadliest holiday on our roads (6 p.m. Wednesday to 5:59 a.m. Monday).<\/p>\n

\u201cThanksgiving is a time for families and tradition, and each of us can do our part to prevent these 100 percent preventable tragedies,\u201d said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church, whose 18-year-old son Dustin was killed in a teen drunk and drugged crash. \u201cPlease take advantage of the many options for getting home safely \u2014 a designated, non-drinking driver, rideshare, taxi or public transportation.”<\/p>\n

It’s not too late to stop this “tradition,” which only started to gain notoriety a few years ago. The day started making headlines in 2012 and gained several names, such as Thanksgiving Eve, Friendsgiving or Drinksgiving, in 2015.<\/p>\n

Here are some ways to fight back<\/h2>\n

In addition to MADD\u2019s Tie One On for Safety<\/em>\u00ae<\/sup> red ribbon holiday campaign,<\/a>\u00a0MADD joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in urging everyone to \u201cMake It to the Table: Don\u2019t Drink and Drive this Thanksgiving Eve.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, we want to put 300,000 Tie One On for Safety<\/em> ribbons on the road to represent the 300,000 drunk driving incidents that occur every day. You can order a decal here<\/a>. If you are hosting an office or holiday party, consider passing out ribbons to your guest BEFORE the party begins. Remind your guests to have a safe ride home. Bulk ribbon orders available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"TOOFS

MADD encourages everyone to spread the word on Nov. 22 and throughout the holiday season by using this MADD\u2019s holiday hashtag #HomeForHolidays, along with #buzzeddriving and #designateddriver. When you take MADD’s pledge to designate a non-drinking driver, you can receive MADD’s first-ever virtual ribbon. Join the more than 500 people who have added this image to their Facebook profile imag<\/a>e.<\/p>\n

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