Your anti-impaired driving programs and messages can be used on holidays when impaired driving is usually up and during special weeks and months that emphasize highway safety issues (see the poster calendar in this planner for dates). Here are a few ideas for keeping your 3D efforts going throughout the year.
JANUARY
New Year’s Day – "mocktail" brunch, New Year’s resolution pledge cards printed in newspapers
Super Bowl Sunday and College Bowl Games – free-ride-home programs and designated driver promotions at sports bars
Beginning of legislature – informational seminars for legislators and their staff
FEBRUARY
Valentine’s Day – balloons and valentines at shopping malls and daycare centers
National Child Passenger Safety Week – child safety seat checkpoints, media events emphasis on child safety seat and seat belt use as your children’s best defense against a drunk driver
MARCH
St. Patrick’s Day – free-ride-home programs and designated driver promotions at Irish bars and pubs
March Madness (college basketball) – responsible service training for arena personnel, public service announcements on college radio stations and in college newspapers
APRIL
National Drive Safely at Work Week – educational programs for employees, "mocktail" recipe contests
College Spring Break – non-alcoholic festivals, sports contests and picnics (on campuses, at popular vacation destinations and at amusement parks)
MAY
Cinco de Mayo – bilingual educational programs and law enforcement outreach to the Hispanic-American community, public service announcements on Spanish-language television and radio stations
National Motorcycle Safety Month – alcohol-free safety rodeo with local motorcyclists
Buckle Up, America! Week – emphasis on child safety seat and seat belt use as the best defense against a drunk driver, sobriety checkpoints and other law enforcement mobilization for the Memorial Day weekend
National Emergency Medical Services Week – emergency room tours and media ride-alongs, civic visibility for EMS professionals
JUNE
Senior Prom and Graduation – sign-up cards for students to pledge not to drive impaired or ride in a car with someone who is impaired, parent pledges not to provide alcohol for parties or allow unchaperoned parties, promotion of minimum drinking age and zero tolerance laws, alcohol-free "lock in" parties with bands, videos, games and other entertainment
Senior Skip Day and Beach Week – alcohol-free promotions at amusement parks, popular resort destinations and neighborhood pools
JULY
Fourth of July – public education and law enforcement mobilization, alcohol-free picnics and concerts, parade floats emphasizing anti-impaired driving messages
Summer Vacation – pre-vacation safety seminars and promotions through travel agencies and service stations, programs on safe boating, safe motorcycling and safe bicycling
AUGUST
Summer Camp – education on zero tolerance and minimum drinking age laws for counselors, campers and parents, youth sports programs with law enforcement officers
Back-to-School – zero tolerance policies on college campuses with education for students and parents, pedestrian and bus safety campaigns (see Campaign Safe & Sober Program Planner 19), law enforcement officer bus ride-on program for first day of school
SEPTEMBER
Labor Day – law enforcement mobilization for holiday weekend, public service messages in the media and on roads leading to vacation destinations
Back-to-School – anti-impaired driving editorials in high school and college newspapers, persuasive writing or debate on impaired driving laws and sanctions
National Road Victim Remembrance Day – civic ceremonies to coincide with national event
OCTOBER
Walk Our Children to School Day and School Bus Safety Week – community programs tied to school-based activities (see Campaign Safe & Sober Program Planner 19)
Halloween – anti-impaired driving float in parade, alcohol-free parties, safety emphasis for trick-or-treating
NOVEMBER
Harvest Festivals – alcohol-free civic and school-based events, coordination with food banks and other service organizations to promote anti-impaired driving messages, mocktail samples at grocery stores
Thanksgiving – participation in Operation ABC Mobilization, public education on travel safety for Thanksgiving weekend, education on anti-impaired driving programs through faith communities
DECEMBER
National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month – mayoral proclamation (see page 28 for a sample) and signing ceremony, public service campaigns with local media, promotions through schools, faith communities and civic groups (See the You Drink & Drive. You Lose. materials in this Program Planner.)
Lights on for Life Day – See page 5 for traditional and new ways to celebrate
National Holiday Lifesavers Weekend – support for local law enforcement participation
Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwaanza – anti-impaired driving promotion for all holidays, anti-impaired driving messages in holiday sermons, public service announcements
New Year’s Eve – Free-Ride-Home and designated driver programs in all bars, restaurants and hotels, responsible host tips and training for those hosting home-based parties, information and assurances on Y2K compliance of emergency services
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