Volunteers around Virginia

Valarie Ricks-Patterson shared her family’s story at Fort Lee to educate service people about drinking responsibly. Learn more about Valarie’s story, in her own words, here.

Impaired Driving Crashes in the News

6/3/22 Lorena B. Harris, 80, Henrico

5/22/22 Jalisa Hill, 33, Suffolk

5/21/22 Jose Alvarado, 38, Chesterfield

5/21/22 Victor Toenniges, 64, Colonial Heights

5/18/22 Mark Lambert, Jr., 16, Augusta County

5/17/22 Patrick Mullins and Kaan Karabekir, 32 & 28, Fairfax

5/15/22 Justin Tilghman, 36, Albemarle

4/6/22 Thomas Dwayne Campbell, 61, Nottoway

BUI is DUI

It’s summertime, which means more people are back out on the water in their boats.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Virginia staff are teaming up with law enforcement to promote safe boating and educate Virginians about the dangers of operating a boat or watercraft while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.

“The past two years have been treacherous not just on our roads, but on our waterways as well,” said MADD National President Alex Otte. “We want everyone to understand that a boat is a vehicle and that boating under the influence is driving under the influence. Impairment by alcohol or any other drugs on the water is extremely dangerous and 100% preventable. The safest choice for boaters is to wait until they are on land and at a location they will not need to drive away from – either by boat or car.”

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol is a leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents. Where the primary cause was known, alcohol was listed as the leading contributing factor in 18% of deaths in 2020.

Additionally, a boater is likely to become impaired more quickly than an automobile driver, and even moderate drinking can cause significant impairment on a boat. The environmental stressors of the marine environment - motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind, and spray - accelerate the impairing effect of alcohol. These stressors cause fatigue, making a boater’s coordination, judgment, and reaction time decline even faster when using alcohol. Operating a boat with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher is against federal law and most state laws.

Stay smart and stay safe this summer by not boating – or driving – under the influence!

July Alcohol Safety

We love to celebrate the 4th of July with family, friends, food, and fireworks. Yet all too often the festivities turn tragic on the nation's roads. This American holiday is also one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to drunk-driving crashes.

In 2020, 493 people died in motor vehicle crashes over the July 4th holiday period (6 p.m. July 2 – 5:59 a.m. July 6, 2020). Forty-one percent (201) of those fatalities occurred in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.

From 2016 to 2020, there were 1,390 drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the 4th of July holiday period. Thirty-nine percent (542) of the drivers killed were alcohol-impaired (with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), and more than half (51%) were between the ages of 21-34.

Be safe, be smart, and make plans for a designated driver in advance.