Helga M. Azizkhan, President of MADD's Tri County Chapter, said MADD is asking motorists statewide to tie a small red ribbon to a visible location on their vehicle. The ribbons are red to honor victims of drunken driving incidents and to symbolize society's outrage with those who deliberately choose to drink and drive and put all of our lives at risk. PennDOT is encouraging employees, community members, schools and local police to participate by wearing red clothing, red ribbons and red stickers during Red-Out Day to remind motorists to buckle up, drive safely and drive sober. We want to see people reach their destinations safely. We hope this holiday season, and all year, people will think twice before driving impaired.
Lives are at stake.
The day is designed to show support for all anti-impaired driving efforts and to remember victims of impaired drivers. That's why we're attacking the problem of drinking and driving on many fronts. Don't drink and drive. Evanko pointed out that 528 persons died and 13,438 others were injured in 14,079 alcohol-related crashes in Pennsylvania last year. He noted that 38 percent of highway deaths that occurred during holiday weekends were related to alcohol use.