Tie One On for Safety with Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Video Transcription:

Announcer: You’re watching KOAT Action 7 News.

Shelly: Mothers Against Drunk Driving are reminding people this holiday season to not drink and drive.

Doug: Action 7 New’s reporter John Cardinale is live to tell us about their holiday campaign.

John: Shelly and Doug, Mothers Against Drunk Driving celebrated their 35th anniversary of the Tie One On for Safety Campaign. They partnered with local law enforcement agencies and tied these red ribbons onto their vehicles to remind people not to drink and drive.

Analesa: One thing that has always crossed my mind is, what would have happened if that man’s decision to drink and drive, if he would have simply just decided, “No, I will not drink and drive.”

John: Analesa Maldonado was hit by a drunk driver in March of 2020 after getting her oil changed. The crash changed her life forever.

Analesa: We have to realize some other people aren’t as lucky. And it’s important to push the idea of a designated driver, especially now during the holidays.

John: Analesa, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and local law enforcement agencies took Monday afternoon to remind those this holiday season to not drink and drive.

Bert: The most important gift that you can give someone this holiday season is you.

John: Bert Parnall, with Parnall Law Firm, helps sponsor the Tie One On for Safety Campaign, and says traffic collisions are up 9% Since COVID, and a significant amount of them include substances.

Bert: 65% have one or more drug in them, that includes the alcohol. Sixty-five percent, post-COVID, this compares to 50% pre-COVID.

John: A startling reminder to not drink and get behind the wheel no matter what time of year.

Analesa: So during this holiday season, not only love your friends and family and the people around you, but care about them enough to make those decisions, whether it may be hard to stand up to them, it is important. And in the end, it really does show that you care.

John: NMDOT was also at the event. They say this holiday season, they’re going to be giving out $50 rideshare coupons to make sure people get home safely. They say they’ll have more information on where to get those coupons next week. Reporting outside the Sheriff’s Office, John Cardinale, KOAT Action 7 News.

Doug: According to MADD, from Thanksgiving Eve to New Year’s Eve in 2019, there were 926 lives lost to drunk driving all over the country.