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      July 2003 Crackdown

You Drink & Drive. You Lose.
National Crackdown
Sample Press Release
Youth Oriented

FIRST YOU DRINK & DRIVE. YOU LOSE CRACKDOWN SINCE ALL 50 STATES AND DC PASSED .O8 BAC LAWS

Largest National Advertising Campaign to Highlight Law Enforcement Efforts

[Date][STUDENT GROUP] announced today its plans to participate in the You Drink & Drive. You Lose. nationwide crackdown from August 27 to September 12, 2004. This is the first since all 50 States and the District of Columbia passed .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) laws for impaired driving. Uniform BAC laws strengthen the hand of law enforcement to arrest and prosecute dangerous drunk drivers to the fullest extent of the law. Additionally, for the first time, the crackdown will take place during the Labor Day period to target the end-of-summer impaired driving problem. In 2002, more than 55% of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes that occurred during the Labor Day weekend were alcohol-related.

“Young people need to be reminded that drunk driving is far from cool; it’s dangerous and often times is deadly. So our message is clear – You Drink & Drive. You Lose.”, said [LOCAL STUDENT LEADER]. “We also need to remember that we are not invincible. Alcohol seriously impairs young adults’ ability to think straight and if combined with driving can turn into a disaster. We have our entire lives before us; don’t risk your future by driving drunk. ”

The You Drink & Drive. You Lose. Crackdown, which began in 1999, combines highly visible law enforcement with a $14 million national advertising campaign – the largest paid media buy in the crackdown’s history. Advertising during the crackdown highlights the law enforcement component that will be strictly enforcing drunk driving laws during the three-week crackdown period.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studies show that nearly 97 percent of Americans view drinking and driving by others as a threat to their families and themselves. Indeed, Americans support tougher enforcement and rank drunk driving ahead of healthcare, poverty, the environment and gun control as an important social issue. The majority of Americans support increased enforcements efforts.

NHTSA estimates that 17,401 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2003. This represents 40% of the 43,220 people killed in all traffic crashes. Last year, there was a more than 2% increase in fatalities of motorcyclists in alcohol-related crashes. To counter this deadly trend, law enforcement officers will be on the lookout for one or more of the following characteristics of motorcycle drivers: drifting during turns or curves, having trouble with dismount, and being unbalanced at stops.

[STUDENT LEADER/ORGANIZATION] reminds everyone:

• Be responsible and don’t risk it … you will be caught.
• If you plan to drink, choose a designated driver before going out.
• Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Spend the night where the activity is held.
• Report impaired drivers to law enforcement.
• Always buckle up – it’s your best defense against an impaired driver.

For more information about the crackdown or alcohol-related crash statistics, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org