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Mothers
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MADD Orange County
Chapter Fact Sheet Since the chapter began in December 1981, MADD Orange County has changed how the criminal justice system and the public view the crime of drinking and driving. The reduction in deaths and injuries over the past 19 years is directly attributable to this change in attitudes and the growing awareness that driving under the influence of alcohol is a conscious choice, not an "accident." Death and injury from alcohol-related crashes is preventable. MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD Orange County has one of the largest Victim Impact Panel Programs for court-ordered offenders in the nation. With the participation of dedicated victim volunteers, two or three panels are provided each month. Since 1987, over 16,000 offenders have witnessed this program. MADD Orange County received dozens of victim assistance calls last year; many of these were accompanied to court. A 24-hour hot-line, professional referrals and court advocacy are available to all inquiring victims. MADD Orange County was the first MADD chapter to develop a Designated Driver Program with the hospitality industry. This program has helped make "Designated Driver" commonplace throughout the United States. MADD Orange County's Sober Prom program reaches tens of thousands of students in 20 Orange County high schools each year, with the message "Celebrate Life . . . Don't Drink and Drive." MADD's ad campaign in bus shelters and bus benches reaches thousands of drivers, pedestrians and bus riders daily. The MADD Orange County chapter has received donated space in as many as 52 bus shelters and on 100 bus benches a month. During Project Red Ribbon 1995, 400,000 red ribbons were distributed to Orange County residents to remind them to drive sober. MADD Orange County is reaching out to the Spanish-speaking community with a bimonthly Spanish Victim Impact Panel, Spanish language public service announcements, brochures, coloring books, bumper stickers and foto novelas distributed through booth events and Hispanic community events. MADD Orange County offers resource assistance on the issue of drinking and driving to companies, students, public speakers and others. MADD Orange County offers speakers to many schools and community organizations every week, and with appearances on local and regional cable television programs. MADD Orange County is upgrading and revising its DMV video project, which reaches thousands of OC drivers as they stand in line at their neighborhood DMV office. MADD Orange County has one of the most comprehensive Law Enforcement |
