ROANOKE, Va. – The Virginia State Police and Mothers Against Drunk Driving have a simple message this holiday season: if you pick up a drink, put down the car keys. “I always tell people, don’t have the ‘Not Me Syndrome,’” said Virginia State Police Sgt. Please don’t have that mindset, because anything is possible.”“This is all 100 percent preventable,” said Meghan Carter of Virginia’s Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter. In 2019, there were 104 alcohol-related crashes in the Roanoke region, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Additionally, 45% of all crashes between Thanksgiving and New Years Day are alcohol-related, according to MADD.

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – Mothers Against Drunk Driving hopes that the incident involving Delegate Chris Hurst shines more light on the issue of DUI in the Commonwealth. MADD Virginia Director Chris Konschak said he understands that officers have discretion while on patrol, but he doesn’t want anyone driving under the influence. Chris Hurst could not have been arrested during traffic stop after blowing .085, says CA]He also said he hopes someone’s political position would not impact a possible arrest. “We also hope that the delegate will take some responsibility for his act in impaired driving and one not do it again and two help us with our mission to stop impaired driving,” Konschak said. Chris Hurst traffic stop]The Christiansburg police officer who pulled Hurst over has received a number of awards from MADD Virginia.

VINTON, Va. - Dozens of law enforcement officers dedicated to stopping drunken driving now have a new honor to put in their trophy rooms. Mothers Against Drunk Driving Virginia and the Alcohol Safety Action Program organized an awards banquet at the Vinton War Memorial for officers who excelled at spotting and arresting drunken drivers. The organizations handed out plaques to more than 40 officers and troopers from central and southwest Virginia. Chris Konschak, of MADD Virginia, says he hopes would-be drunken drivers look at the banquet as a reason to keep their car keys out of the ignition. "If you make the decision to go out and drive impaired, there's a good chance you're going to be caught.

More people die in drunken driving crashes in July than any other month, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). "Backyard barbecues, fireworks displays and other festivities surrounding the Fourth of July holiday often include drinking, making it one of the deadliest holidays of the year," said Helen Witty, national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, in a statement. The accompanying weekend is also prime for drunken driving. That year, 10,874 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes -- an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 48 minutes. Staying off the roads, using public transit, and having a designated driver are all ways to stay safe this patriotic season.