National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

Categories:: Health
Tags:: Awareness
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every December
Holiday emoji:: 🛑

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month dedicates every December to raising critical awareness about the dangers of impaired driving. This observance urges everyone to make responsible choices during the bustling holiday season, ensuring safe travel for all. Commit to planning for sober transportation, speaking up if a friend is about to drive impaired, and supporting prevention initiatives.

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Expected National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month Deals

During National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, the focus shifts from commercial deals to life-saving initiatives and awareness campaigns. Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partner with corporations to promote safe driving. Expect ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft to offer special discounts or partnerships with local law enforcement for free rides home on peak holiday nights. Insurance companies like State Farm and alcohol producers like Anheuser-Busch often launch responsible drinking campaigns, offering educational resources and designated driver programs. We will update this page with confirmed live initiatives as December approaches.

Platform Guide for National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #DUIPreventionMonth to share real-time statistics, safe ride tips, and links to local prevention events.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #SafeRides. Share community-focused content, personal stories of impact, and resources for planning sober transportation.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #DrunkDrivingPrevention. Create visually impactful posts with safety messages, infographics, and calls to action for responsible holiday celebrations.

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month Hero

Candy Lightner

Candy Lightner is the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), one of the most influential advocacy groups in the United States. After her 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was killed by a repeat drunk driver in 1980, Lightner channeled her grief into action. She founded MADD to raise public awareness, advocate for stronger laws, and support victims of impaired driving. Her tireless efforts transformed public perception and significantly impacted legislation, making roads safer across the nation.

History of National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

Since 1981, high officials all across America have worked their hardest promoting the importance of staying sober while driving during the month of December, proclaimed National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month or National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and it all stemmed from one woman and her resolve.
On May 3, 1980, thirteen-year-old Cari Lightner was struck and killed by Clarence Busch in a drunk driving accident. When police arrested Clarence, they found this was not his first occurence, even down to a hit-and-run drunk driving fine less than a week before his accident with Cari. At the time, driving while intoxicated was a misdemeanor that was barely prosecuted, meaning that Busch was very unlikely to have gone to jail.
This unacceptable fact motivated Cari’s mother, Candy Lightner, to take action. The result was the non-profit organization known as MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Candy’s movement quickly grew across the nation. She pushed to a more strict definition of what drunk driving was, having legislators pass stricter laws and prosecutions that included jail time and license suspensions, up to having President Reagan establish 21 as the minimum drinking age and appointing Lightner as part of a commission developed to tackle the issue.
To this day, Candy continues to advocate for anti-drunk, drugged and distracted driving legislation as president of We Save Lives. “I am not against drinking. I am for responsible drinking. We don’t let people walk around with a loaded gun in our neighborhood. But we let them drive when they drink.”

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month timeline

July 3, 2014

Safety Bill

Rep. Nita Lowey sponsored national legislation requiring car ignition interlocks.

July 2004

Setting the Limit

All 50 states adopted .08 as the legal blood alcohol limit.

1990

Becomes Law

The Supreme Court ruled that police sobriety checks on public roads are constitutional.

1980

Speaking Up

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) founder Candy Lightner challenged legislators to take drunk driving seriously.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

Local businesses can play a crucial role in supporting National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month by promoting safe practices. Restaurants and bars can offer complimentary non-alcoholic beverages to designated drivers or partner with ride-sharing services to provide discounted fares. Retailers can display awareness posters and share information on their social media channels, encouraging customers to plan for sober transportation during holiday shopping and celebrations. Offering employee education and resources for safe commuting can also make a significant impact.

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month FAQs

When is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month?

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month runs throughout December 2026, focusing on safe choices during the busy holiday season. This annual observance serves as a critical reminder to prevent impaired driving.

How many people are affected by impaired driving?

According to the National Safety Council, over 40,000 people died in alcohol-related traffic accidents last year. This month highlights the devastating impact of impaired driving on individuals, families, and communities nationwide.

What are the penalties for impaired driving?

Penalties for impaired driving (DUI/DWI) vary by state but typically include hefty fines, license suspension or revocation, mandatory alcohol education programs, and potential jail time. These consequences underscore the serious legal ramifications of driving under the influence.

What is the difference between drunk and drugged driving?

Drunk driving refers specifically to operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, typically measured by a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit. Drugged driving, however, encompasses operating a vehicle while impaired by any drug—legal or illegal—that affects one’s ability to drive safely.

How to Observe National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

Do a sober period
During December, try to challenge yourself and set a period of time without drinking alcohol. Be it one week, two weeks, make it as long as you would like. You may even see some benefits on laying off the drinks for a while, save money, lose weight, and much more.
Take a cab or use a ride-sharing app after a party or visiting a bar
No one says you can't party and let loose for a while. But if you've had too much, get home safely. Call a cab, or better yet, use your ride-sharing app and let the professionals do the driving. That way, you'll be around for the festivities next year.
Be a Designated Driver
You'll make a great impression for being the one friend others can trust to drive back home. It is an overall small sacrifice for a night that won’t affect your chances to have a great time, so offer yourself up and give your friends a helping hand!

5 Facts About Drunk Driving

27 people daily
Is the amount of people who die in a drunk driving accident in the US
South Africa has the highest rate
Around six out of every ten fatalities on South Africa's roads are drunk-driving related accidents.
The first ever arrest was in 1897
George Smith was the first person ever convicted of drunk driving after he slammed his cab into a building.
The two deadliest holidays
On Average, New Year’s Eve is the day with most DUI arrests, but Fourth of July has the most drunk driving related deaths.
There is no “sobering” element
Neither coffee or showers will make a person sober up, only time does.

Why National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month is Important

Traffic-related deaths spike between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day
With all the drinking during the holiday season, it's not a stretch to see why so many people are dying on the roads. Consider this dreadful statistic: Over 45 people are killed each day by an alcohol-impaired driver and those numbers climb at the end of the year. Additionally, in 68 percent of traffic fatalities involving a drunk driver, there was a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.15 or higher with the legal limit being 0.8.
Drugs also contribute to traffic deaths
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has expanded its mission statement to include drug-impaired driving. Mixing alcohol with opioids may increase a driver's sedation, which can lead to serious consequences on the road. In 2017, researchers at Columbia University reported a seven-fold jump (since 1995) in the number of drivers killed while operating a vehicle under the influence of prescription drugs.
Pedestrian deaths increase
It's especially true on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays when holiday parties are in full swing and the bars are packed. So the fatality risk goes both ways. It's more likely that an alcohol or drug-impaired driver will accidentally kill either themselves, their passengers, or a pedestrian — or that an inebriated pedestrian will walk into the path of an innocent driver.