ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to
increase awareness and stigmatize irresponsible drinking behavior,
especially among high-risk drivers, Responsibility.org today
launched Wrong Side of the Road—a new initiative designed to
educate and change attitudes among the 21- to 35-year-old
demographic who are continually over-represented in DUI crashes and
deaths.
"Wrong Side of the Road is a free, interactive learning
experience that presents a series of videos where impaired drivers
share the life changing consequences of their DUIs," said
Chris Swonger, President and CEO
of the Distilled Spirits Council of the
United States (DISCUS) and Responsibility.org. "By
increasing awareness, we can lower instances of irresponsible
behavior, especially among high-risk drivers. It's our sincere hope
that one day, this innovative and important program can help ensure
no more lives are lost to irresponsible and reckless driving
behavior."
The launch featured remarks from several notable attendees,
including U.S. Representative Debbie
Dingell (MI-12) and U.S. Representative Charles Fleischmann (TN-3).
"We have the technology to save countless lives, and it's time
we use it. More families should not have to go through the trauma
of losing their loved ones to something so
preventable," said U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12). "And that's why
my legislation, the Honoring the Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate
Drunk Driving (HALT) Act, is included in the bipartisan
infrastructure bill because so many recognize the need to stop
these preventable tragedies. I'm grateful for Responsibility.org's
leadership and partnership in this fight – especially through
creating innovative strategies like the Wrong Side of the Road to
educate Americans and prevent them from driving impaired."
The representative from Tennessee agreed with Rep. Dingell on her
outlook towards solutions needed for impaired driving.
"We have lost far too many Tennesseans to alcohol-impaired
driving incidents over the years. It is critical to raise awareness
and provide resources to help folks see how dangerous driving under
the influence truly is," said U.S. Representative
Chuck Fleischmann (TN-3).
"I commend Responsibility.org for providing their unique,
user-friendly tool 'Wrong Side of the Road,' and look forward to
helping to continue to promote this life-saving program."
Developed by the United Nations Institute for Training and
Research (UNITAR) and Diageo, and implemented in America by
Responsibility.org on behalf of its 11 funders, craft supporters
and corporate partners, Wrong Side of the Road will run globally
through 2030. Following the panel discussion, attendees watched a
demonstration of the program and learned more about the dangers of
impaired driving during a Q&A session that included strategies
to lower the numbers of impaired driving crashes and deaths.
"Diageo is committed to creating prevention tools that further
educate people about the dangers of impaired driving," said
Debra Crew, President, Diageo
North America. "It is important that we join forces to combat
impaired driving to tackle this behavior. These crashes are
completely preventable—no one should have their life changed
forever because someone drove impaired. Wrong Side of the Road is
an innovative way to get that message in front of high-risk drivers
who need to hear it."
The event also included remarks from David Whitesock, a Wrong Side of the Road
participant, who discussed his own DUI experience and the negative
impact it had on his life.
"I feel incredibly lucky to participate in the Wrong Side of the
Road program and to share my story with individuals who will
hopefully choose not to get behind the wheel when impaired," said
Whitesock. "I am grateful for the opportunity to support
this important program and serve as an example of the serious
consequences of impaired driving. If there is one upside to my
struggle with addiction, it's that I can now help others make
better choices."
The launch follows the release of the latest data from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
preliminary Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The survey
estimates, there was an 18 percent increase in U.S. traffic
deaths in the first six months of 2021 when compared to the first
six months of 2020 (the highest half-year percentage increase in
the history of recorded FARS data), and a separate analysis found
in 2020 police reported alcohol-involved traffic deaths increased
an estimated nine percent.
While drunk driving fatalities have decreased 36 percent
since 1991, traffic deaths increased 10 percent in the U.S. from
2020-2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA). The latest data show, police
reported alcohol-involved traffic deaths increased by nine percent
with extreme speeds and low seat belt use noted as additional
factors in the noted rise in traffic fatalities.
For more information, visit
Responsibility.org/WrongSideoftheRoad.
About Responsibility.org
Responsibility.org is a national not-for-profit that aims to
eliminate drunk driving and work with others to end all impaired
driving, eliminate underage drinking, and empowers adults to make a
lifetime of responsible alcohol choices as part of a balanced
lifestyle. Responsibility.org is funded by the following
distillers: Bacardi USA, Inc.;
Beam Suntory Inc.; Brown-Forman; Campari Group; DIAGEO; Edrington,
Mast-Jägermeister US, Inc.; Moët Hennessy USA; Ole Smoky, LLC; Pernod Ricard
USA; and William Grant & Sons. For 30 years,
Responsibility.org has transformed countless lives through programs
that bring individuals, families, and communities together to
inspire a lifetime of responsible alcohol choices. To learn more,
please visit www.Responsibility.org.
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SOURCE Responsiblity.org