Seasonal Sober Driving Push Underway
24 November 1998
Red Ribbons and 'Tying One On For Safety' a Capitol Idea With Michigan's Governor and MADD; Seasonal Sober Driving Push Underway LANSING, Mich., Nov. 23 -- From the Capitol in Lansing down
Michigan Avenue to all parts of the state, red ribbons are on the way, on a
roll and on our cars.
That's the aim of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Michigan with its
thirteenth annual Red Ribbon "Tie One On For Safety" holiday safe and sober
driving campaign that began today in Lansing.
Governor John Engler "Tied One On For Safety" at the opening ceremony at
the Capitol, leading the way for thousands of motorists who are expected to
tie on over a million red ribbons in Michigan during the next six weeks of the
campaign, showing their commitment to sober driving.
From November 23, 1998, through January 1, 1999, the potentially
life-saving traffic safety initiative encourages drivers to tie a MADD red
ribbon to a visible place on their automobile as a symbol of their personal
decision to drive sober and to remind other drivers to do the same.
"These symbolic red ribbons can even be seen as red flags calling our
attention to the dangers of drunk driving and warning us it's time to take
action ... to tie one on for safety. Let's tie on a red ribbon and knock off
drunk driving," urged Kenneth La Salle, Ph.D., executive director, MADD,
Michigan to the crowd gathered for the opening ceremony.
Well over 100 MADD supporters, campaign sponsors, traffic safety
advocates, law enforcement officers, government officials, and community
representatives assembled inside the Capitol Rotunda area for the special
campaign lead-off.
During the ceremony, Maria Ptacin of Battle Creek, public policy committee
chairperson and liaison, MADD, Michigan, shared how becoming a victim of drunk
driving had changed and colored her life. From the black of mourning and
loss, to the gray days of grief, she began to see a new challenge and urgency
in fighting drunk driving.
Her 14-and-a-half-year-old son, Jullian Philip Ptacin, a Pennfield High
School ninth grader, was killed instantly when a two-time repeat drunk driving
offender struck again, October 11, 1997, in Battle Creek. The broadside
collision happened on a routine night on the way home, as husband and son
picked up a video, stopped to see her at the restaurant she owns and operates,
and then headed home only a few miles away. The drunk driver ran the
intersection.
"I will not sit helplessly on the sidelines and watch one more senseless,
avoidable, and very violent death occur just like the 544 drunk driving deaths
that occurred in Michigan in 1997 and the over 17,000 deaths nationwide. ...
Because I have undertaken this challenge, like many others have before me, a
new color has entered by life. This color is bright, powerful red. It is not
only a color of Christmas. It is a color that tells us to respect life around
us, and is a vivid reminder of those we have lost to drunk drivers. Red is
the color of action through Mothers Against Drunk Driving," said the MADD
state board officer.
Mrs. Ptacin is a physicist and restaurateur (R.S.V.P. in Battle Creek) and
came to this country from Poland 25 years ago. Her husband, Dr. Philip
Ptacin, is a family physician in Battle Creek.
Two MADD Michigan memorial pieces were backdrops to the Capitol ceremony,
underscoring the deadly consequences of drinking and driving.
The 1998 MADD Red Ribbon Memorial Tree was covered with 544 hand-tied red
ribbons, one for each life taken in alcohol-involved crashes in Michigan in
1997. Robert Willett, chairperson, MADD, Michigan presented the tree that
will be placed in the Michigan Historical Museum through the holidays.
Complementing that memorial was the new handmade quilt called "Reality," a
testament to individual loss. Created by Donna Wood Schue of Linden, the
8 ft. by 6 ft. work was made in loving memory as a tribute to her 36-year-old
son, Russell William Wood, killed in a drunk driving crash, September 14,
1997. The quilt design conveys a visual message through the use of the
traditional quilt patterns "Drunkard's Path" and "Courthouse Steps," which
surround fabric squares with photo images of old Michigan courthouses
(Alcona, Berrien, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Iron, Keweenaw, Lapeer, Macomb,
Menominee, Midland, Muskegon, Oakland, Presque Isle, Saginaw, Schoolcraft, and
Wayne Counties), all bordered by a symbolic MADD red ribbon.
On her behalf, MADD's executive director shared the quilt-maker's
sentiments. "Every quilt is more than fabric, it is a preservation of a
woman's feelings," La Salle said, explaining the mother's choice for the
unique memorial. The "reality" depicted is -- if a person chooses to drink
and drive, life could be destroyed, penalties will be imposed, and MADD will
be there.
A ceremonial red ribbon tying with officials was held in front of the
Capitol with Governor Engler. Dignitaries included Sheriff Gene
Wriggelsworth, Ingham County, president, Michigan Sheriffs' Association;
Captain Stephen Madden, Commanding Officer, Special Operations Division,
Michigan Department of State Police; Chief Michael Madden, St. Johns Police
Department, chairman, Traffic Safety Committee and board member, Michigan
Association of Chiefs of Police; Betty Mercer, division director, Office of
Highway Safety Planning; and major red ribbon sponsor, Allstate Insurance
Company representative, Janet Moore, community relations manager, Southfield.
At the close of the public ceremony a 100-plus vehicle motorcade of law
enforcement, fire, emergency response and safety vehicles, and semi-trucks and
other commercial vehicles, followed by MADD's "red ribbon motorcade motorists"
showed their strength in numbers as they departed the Capitol, en masse. The
motorcade stretched miles down Michigan Avenue heading into East Lansing and
then to home communities across the state.
The day's activities closed with a luncheon where the 1998 state MADD Life
Saver Awards were presented to 10 outstanding law enforcement officers for
their efforts to stop drunk driving.
The "Tie One On For Safety" holiday campaign was created in 1986 to urge
Americans to drive sober during the dangerous holiday season and throughout
the year. The campaign is geared around the holiday season when more people
are traveling to visit family and friends, companies are holding annual
holiday parties, and individuals are hosting festivities. This is a high-risk
time of the year when awareness is critical.
Historically, from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, a greater percentage of
fatal crashes on the state's and nation's roadways involve alcohol.
Hopefully a sign of progress, in Michigan in 1997, two of the three major
year-end holidays had a lower rate of alcohol involvement in fatal traffic
crashes than the annual percentage of 37.5 percent (544 of the total
1,446 fatalities involved alcohol): Thanksgiving -- 5 of the 18 deaths
involved alcohol, 27.7 percent, Christmas -- 3 of the 15 deaths involved
alcohol, 20 percent, and New Year's -- 13 of the 24 traffic fatalities
involved alcohol, 54.1 percent.
Nationwide in 1997, there were two alcohol-related traffic deaths per
hour, 45 per day and 315 per week. That is the equivalent of two jetliners
crashing week after week (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
1998).
MADD reminds drivers that even the smallest amount of alcohol begins to
compromise driving skills and decision making, so selecting a designated
driver is advised before any drinking begins. The designated driver should
remain alcohol-free to provide a safe ride home.
Planning ahead is important because it's not how many drinks it takes to
effect driving skills -- it's how few. Alcohol-free is the safest way to be
(and the surest bet) when getting behind the wheel.
The Michigan "Tie One On For Safety" is part of MADD's nationwide effort
getting underway Thanksgiving week, the campaign theme is "MADD is on the
ribbon. Saving lives is on our minds."
MADD red ribbons are available from any MADD chapter in Michigan, from
many law enforcement agencies, Allstate Insurance agencies, Precision Tune
Auto Care centers, participating businesses, and select community locations
throughout the holiday season.
For more information on participating in or conducting a local "Tie One On
For Safety" campaign or to obtain a red ribbon, contact a MADD chapter or the
MADD, Michigan State Office at 910 Eastlawn, Midland, MI 48642;
FAX (517) 631-8813; or PH (517) 631-6233.
