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Designated Drivers

Free Safe ride home for you and your car 916-335-5555

About Me

.. width="425" height="350" .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. The purpose of the Designated Drivers Association (DDA) is to prevent alcohol related tragedies through education, awareness, and specific actions aimed at reducing the number of alcohol related drunk driving accidents. This program utilizes a harm reduction approach to a widespread community problem. We address the very serious problem of DUI's, and alcohol related fatalities and injuries. Almost half (49%) of those killed and injured were innocent victims. In Sacramento, there were over 7,400 arrests of drivers under the influence (source CHP). Additionally, there were 52 fatalities and 1,458 injuries attributed to impaired drivers (CHP 2001). This is a 40% increase from the last year (2000). Most alcohol-involved injuries occur on Saturday and Sunday mornings between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. (source CHP 1998).The DDA provides a viable solution to the problem of drunk driving and aims to reduce these horrifying Sacramento County statistics. The DDA operates every Friday and Saturday night from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m., statistically these are peak times for DUI related fatalities and injuries. A telephone number is established to field client calls. When a call comes in, a team of volunteers is dispatched via Nextel radios. Once at the scene, volunteers "assess" the situation according to standard assessment procedures and established safety measures. Assessment includes determining whether the individual is coherent, establishing whether the vehicle is registered and in proper working order. Upon completion of a successful assessment, one volunteer drives the clients vehicle to a client specified location, while the second volunteer follows in a volunteer "chase" vehicle. Volunteers are required to follow standard vehicle code regulations at all times. Additionally, all volunteers are trained to assess their personal safety in each situation. Volunteer safety is a priority. Volunteers work in teams of two, consisting of one male and one female. To ensure the safety of volunteers, female volunteers only transport same sex clients. If a car is not registered or in working order the DDA will refuse the client a ride home in their own car and will offer to pay for a cab to get them home safely.The DDA services the Downtown, East Sacramento, Folsom, Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights, Roseville and adjacent areas of Sacramento County. Program volunteers patrol in and around "hot spot" areas with a number of nightclubs and bars. Designated Drivers provides a proactive approach to preventing drunk driving at the source. Established relationships with community businesses that serve alcohol support this program by enlisting bartenders, waitresses and doormen to ensure that all patrons receive our "bar" card which includes our toll free number and a "Please Don't Drink & Drive" message. Providing awareness that there is an alternative to driving drunk is an important component of the program. The DDA's strategy includes the following objectives:* To recruit, screen, and train volunteer "designated drivers" and organize them into pairs (male/female). * To assign the volunteer teams to patrol establishments where alcohol is being served. * To promote the service to those in need by handing out cards with a dedicated dispatch telephone number. * To raise client awareness of his/her intoxication level by including BAC calculator on reverse of such cards. * To safely deliver home the impaired individual and his or her passengers in the individual's own vehicle free of charge. * To conduct this program year-round, primarily on Friday and Saturday nights (potentially Thursday nights) from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m., and on any major holiday (i.e. New Year's Eve, St. Patrick's Day, etc.) * To help reduce DUI related injuries and deaths in Sacramento by 40% by December 31, 2004. * Display 11 x 17 inch posters in and around bars, colleges and military bases with a "Don't Drink & Drive" message posted on them. These posters create awareness of the problem and help reinforce the message of "Please Don't Drink & Drive" * Distribute over 20,000 2 x 3 inch "wallet" cards per month in and around supporting bars and colleges with the " Please Don't Drink & Drive" message on them. These "wallet" cards not only create awareness to not drink and drive they also display our phone number on them. * Create awareness about the Designated Drivers Association and the problems drinking and driving causes by speaking at colleges and other community functions involving traffic safety. * In addition to passing out cards and posting posters we will conduct a multi-media (print/radio/TV) campaign aimed at raising awareness of the program in addition to raising the awareness of the DUI problem in general. * Collaborate with local organizations, associations, businesses, elected officials, colleges, military installations, and corporations in the community to help both build a solid volunteer base and raise funds to sustain the program... width="425" height="350" ..

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Simple Plan DUI video

Add to My Profile | More VideosThe Designated Drivers Association (DDA) has one goal: To protect our roads and highways from the needless tragedy of crashes caused by drug and alcohol impairment, preventing deaths, injuries, and the tremendous costs caused by* Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or * Driving Under the Influence (DUI)Objectives* Increase public awareness of the dangers of driving while impaired. * Educate people about the positive choices they can make concerning impaired driving. * Further understanding of the DDA- a positive, proactive, unique alternative to impaired driving. * Establish a Scholarship Fund - to help children whose lives have been affected by DUI tragedies..... width="425" height="350" ..* We drive you home in your own vehicle, one volunteer will drive your vehicle while the other volunteer follows behind in the "chase" vehicle. * We are not a taxi service YOU MUST HAVE A VEHICLE! * We do not make multiple stops to accommodate passengers, we take the car to it's destination only. Some exceptions will be made in certain circumstances. * We operate 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. Friday, Saturday and selected holiday nights, this means if you call after 2 a.m. you will not get a ride. * We do not take reservations, since our program is intended to be a safety net. Always try to plan ahead! * We operate in Sacramento and adjacent areas only; this means if you call and you are not in these areas you will NOT get a ride. * Service is free up to 15 miles, tips are appreciated and go to help the volunteers helping you. After 15 miles there is a requested donation of $20 and over 25 miles it is $40.

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.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Keeping intoxicated drivers off the road makes your community a safer place. Volunteer with us and do your part to make our freeways and neighborhoods better.The DDA is always looking for responsible adults to volunteer to be a safe ride team. Two weekend nights a month can save dozens of people. For more information on becoming a DDA volunteer visit our website at www.designateddrivers.net or call 916-224-1109.

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Drunk Driving Effects - Did You Know? Intoxication rates for drivers in fatal crashes in 2000 were highest for motorcycle operators (27 percent) and lowest for drivers of large trucks (1 percent). (NHTSA, 2000)Of the general driving age public, 98 percent see drinking and driving as a threat to their personal safety, and 86 percent feel it is very important to do something to reduce the problem. (Gallup Organization, 2000)About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. (NHTSA, 2000)An estimated 513,000 people are injured in alcohol-related crashes each year, an average of 59 people per hour or approximately one person every minute. (NHTSA, 2002)The highest prevalence of both binge and heavy drinking in 2000 was for young adults aged 18 to 25, with the peak rate occurring at age 21. (SAMHSA, 2000)Impairment is not determined by the type of drink, but rather by the amount of alcohol ingested over a specific period of time. ( IIHS, November 2001)Alcohol is closely linked with violence. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, many more violent crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol than all other drugs. (Drug Strategies, 1999)Alcohol is society's legal, oldest and most popular drug. (Narcotic Educational Foundation of America, 2002)Many studies have found that beer is the preferred beverage of drinking drivers. (NHTSA, 2001)Beer is the most common drink consumed by people stopped for alcohol-impaired driving or involved in alcohol-related crashes. (IIHS, November 2001)In real dollars, alcohol costs less today than in 1981 because alcohol excise tax rates have failed to keep up with inflation. (Drug Strategies, 1999)Alcohol-related fatalities are caused primarily by the consumption of beer (80 percent) followed by liquor/wine at 20 percent. (Runge, 2002)The highest intoxication rates in fatal crashes in 2000 were recorded for drivers 21-24 years old (27 percent) followed by ages 25-34 (24 percent) and 35-44 (22 percent). (NHTSA, 2000)Alcohol consumption is a major cause of motor vehicle crashes and injury. Historically, about half of all motor vehicle fatalities occur in crashes in which a driver or non-occupant has consumed a measurable level of alcohol prior to the crash. (NHTSA, 2002)The impact of alcohol involvement increases with injury severity. Alcohol-involved crashes accounted for 10 percent of property damage only crash costs, 21 percent of nonfatal injury crashes; and 46 percent of fatal injury crash costs. (NHTSA, 2002)The intoxication rate for male drivers involved in fatal crashes was 20 percent, compared with 11 percent for female drivers. (NHTSA, 2000)The average person metabolizes alcohol at the rate of about one drink per hour. Only time will sober a person up. Drinking strong coffee, exercising or taking a cold shower will not help. (Michigan State University, 2002)For fatal crashes occurring from midnight to 3:00 a.m., 77 percent involved alcohol. (NHTSA, 2001)Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime. (MADD, 2000)Older drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2000 had the lowest intoxication rate (4 percent) of all adult drivers. (NHTSA, 2000)The rate of alcohol involvement in fatal crashes is more than 3 times as high at night as during the day (61 percent vs. 18 percent). (NHTSA, 2000)The speed of alcohol absorption affects the rate at which one becomes drunk. Unlike foods, alcohol does not have to be slowly digested. As a person drinks faster than the alcohol can be eliminated, the drug accumulates in the body, resulting in higher and higher levels of alcohol in the blood. (Narcotic Education Foundation of America, 2002)A standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits, all of which contain the same amount of alcohol (NIAAA, 1997)The liver is able to metabolize about _ ounce of pure ethanol per hour, (approximately one drink, depending on a person's body size, food intake, etc.). If more alcohol arrives in the liver than the enzymes can handle, the excess alcohol travels to all parts of the body, circulating until the liver enzymes are finally able to process it. (Healthcheck Systems, Inc., 2001)Based .., motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for persons of every age from 4 through 33 years old. (NHTSA, 2000)Thirty percent of all fatal crashes during the week were alcohol-related, compared to 53 percent on weekends. (NHTSA, 2000)There is evidence that heavier drinkers prefer to drink at bars and other person's homes, and at multiple locations requiring longer driver distances. Young drivers have been found to prefer drinking at private parties, while older, more educated drivers prefer bars and taverns. (NHTSA, 2001)Binge drinking has been defined as at least five drinks in a row for men and four drinks in a row for women. (Weschsler et al, 2002)

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Posted by Designated Drivers on Sun, 29 Jul 2007 12:45:00 PST