Drivers Asked to ‘Tie One on for Safety’

San Diego County Mothers Against Drunk Driving is asking motorists to “tie one on for safety” this holiday season.

In creating its holiday safety-awareness program, “Project Red Ribbon,” the local MADD chapter hopes to drive down the number of alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities this year. The nationwide volunteer organization, devoted to raising awareness about the dangers of alcohol- and drug-impaired driving, hopes motorists will tie a red ribbon to the left door handle or antenna of their vehicles to remind them not to climb behind the wheel after “tying one on.”

Kicking off “Project Red Ribbon” at a news conference outside the County Administration Building Tuesday afternoon, Cynthia S. Roark, president of MADD San Diego County, said the ribbons will further serve as a signal that drivers have joined MADD in promoting a safer holiday season.

Among those in attendance to pledge support for the program were San Diego County military, political and law enforcement leaders.

Police chiefs from El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Carlsbad and Coronado announced plans to install sobriety checkpoints and task forces throughout the holiday season.

San Diego Police Chief Bob Burgreen said that driving under the influence once was associated with youthful exuberance and did not carry the social stigma it does today. Warning motorists that drinking and driving is no longer “cool,” Burgreen said his officers “would be glad to escort them to (Sheriff) John Duffy’s jail for the night.”

Assemblywoman Lucy Killea and San Diego County Supervisor Leon Williams each presented Roark, whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver in 1984, with proclamations in recognition of the program.

The ribbons, which are available at no charge at 7-Eleven stores, dotted the parking area of the west entrance to the County Administration Building. More than 20 emergency and law enforcement vehicles displayed them, including a sheriff’s helicopter that sported an oversized ribbon.

In addition to the ribbon program, MADD is teaming up with PacTel Cellular to encourage motorists with car phones to join in a safety watch. Drivers who spot impaired drivers are asked to dial 911, the police or the California Highway Patrol.

If it’s safe, the witness should record the license number and a description of the suspect vehicle, as well as the direction it was heading, said Scott Hoganson, vice president of PacTel Cellular in San Diego.

“One of the advantages of cellular phones is that they expand the highway observation network,” Hoganson said. “We want subscribers to be aware that they can assist in keeping our highways safe by alerting the Highway Patrol to suspected impaired drivers.”

Roark, president of the local MADD chapter since 1984, said driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a year-round problem that reaches epidemic proportions during the holidays.

“Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve (of 1988), 2,432 (48%) of a total of 5,129 traffic fatalities occurring in the United States were alcohol-related,” Roark said. “Traffic crashes are the greatest single cause of death for every age, with the highest fatality rate being between the ages of 5 and 32. More than half of these fatalities are alcohol related.”

However, citing additional statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Assn., Roark said alcohol-related fatalities are decreasing. She attributed the decline to her organization.

“The proportion of fatally injured drivers who were legally impaired dropped from 43.8% in 1982 to 37.5% in 1988,” she said.

Karen Smith also contributed to this article.