By Redaccion
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The District Attorneys of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo have joined forces with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to create a safe and sober driving message for the month of December, which is Impaired Driving Prevention Month.
The PSA highlights the dangers and life-changing consequences that impaired driving can have. Santa Barbara County District Attorney Senior Investigator Judi Estrada shares her story. Judi was struck by a drunk driver while in the car with her family. The crash has impacted every aspect of her life since that day.
According to the most recent data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on Christmas Eve, 57 people were killed nationwide in alcohol-related crashes in 2021. On New Years Eve, 35 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. For the entire year of 2021, MADD and NHTSA data shows every 81 seconds someone in the United States is injured and every 39 minutes someone is killed in a traffic collision involving a driver that is driving under the influence (DUI).
In Ventura County specifically, the District Attorney’s Office DUI Unit reviewed 261 DUI cases submitted by law enforcement in December of 2022. In all of 2022, the DUI prosecution team filed 1,156 DUI cases, including 105 DUI drug cases and 12 DUI combined alcohol and drug cases.
“All of these crimes are 100 percent preventable,” said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “Don’t get behind the wheel impaired because your choice can end up changing someone else’s life forever. We want everyone in the Tri-County area to get home safely this holiday season.”
Along with the PSA release, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office windows will be lit in red tonight, Wednesday, December 6, 2023, joining other offices, businesses, and iconic landmarks across the state to honor and remember victims of drunk and drugged driving. Families and community partners are invited to join us in this cause by illuminating a special place at home or place of business in red. MADD welcomes everyone to share photos or videos of your special illuminated areas on social media by tagging @MADDCalifornia on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtags #OneMADDCalifornia #RedforMADDCA #NoMoreVictims.
