On Tuesday, December 10, Desert Car Care Center of Chandler continues its 7th annual ‘Tie One On For Safety,®’ Don’t Drink & Drive, public awareness campaign with partners MADD Arizona, Chandler Police Department and Chandler High School students, to designate a non-drinking driver during the holiday season. Some of the most dangerous days of the year on roadways are between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Come and sign the Pledge to Drive Sober from 7:30am – 1pm.
In December of 2013, Chandler Police Officer David Payne was the spokespersons at the inaugural event. Tragically, on October 31, 2014, while on duty and stopped at a red light, Officer Payne was rear-ended by an impaired driver who was determined to be more than three times the legal limit. Officer Payne did not survive his injuries and since 2014, we continue to educate in honor of his dedication as a motorcycle officer who served on the East Valley DUI Task Force and had a passion against drunk driving.
On June 10th 2018, Chandler Police Emergency Dispatcher Cathy Coppes was killed when she was struck by an impaired driver in a vehicle collision approximately 20 miles north of Flagstaff. She was operating a motorcycle and was traveling southbound. A vehicle traveling northbound crossed the center line and struck her head on and she was killed on impact. Cathy started her career with the Chandler Police Department in April 2002.
Started in 1986, Tie One On For Safety® is MADD’s longest running and most visible public awareness project. The name comes from the phrase “tie one on,” which is slang for drinking alcohol. But at MADD we use the phrase to remind everyone that drinking and driving don’t mix.
Arizona is a zero-tolerance state which means an officer can arrest you even if your blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) is less than 0.08 percent so long as they believe you're impaired. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, in 2018, 420 people were killed in impaired driving-related crashes. Annually, crashes involving alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription medication account for about 4 percent of all collisions, and about one-third of all fatal crashes. Don’t let impaired drivers get behind the wheel.
Pledge To Drive Sober: This holiday season, I give my family, my friends and myself the gift of life. I pledge to not drink and drive or ride with an impaired driver, let my friends drink and drive or ride with an impaired driver, and to always wear my seatbelt. I make the commitment to always have a designated driver.
Tips to keep your family and friends safe this season:
- Promote the non-drinking designated driver concept in party invitations.
- Host parties by providing alternate transportation or accommodation.
- Have bedrooms and your sofa ready for those who need to spend the night.
- Provide plenty of food, yet avoid too many salty snacks, which tend to make people thirsty and drink more.
- Designate a non-drinking driver BEFORE the celebration begins.