MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING A MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, & SOUTH DAKOTA REGION
OCTOBER 2023 • ISSUE 8 • VOLUME 1
MADD now has a Victim Services Specialist in North Dakota! Angie Kutzer joined the MADD Team in September. Angie’s office is located in Bismarck, North Dakota. We hope this will prove to be a great centralized location for her to serve the people of North Dakota and the Upper Midwest Region.
WALK LIKE MADD 2023 RECAP
The past month, our MADD regional team held our annual Walk Like MADD event in Plymouth, Minnesota. It was a beautiful morning for those who have lost a loved one and/or have been injured due to a substance impaired driving crash. We came together with hopes of raising awareness, ending drunk and drugged driving and honoring victim survivors. To those who donated and participated, whether in person and online, thank you! The event couldn’t have happened without you and it was an honor to walk with you.
Angie has spent much of her life advocating for sound judgment, smart choices and speaking out against impaired and distracted driving. The Mission and Vision of MADD are deeply important to Angie and her family and they align with those of her own speaking and writing efforts through her organization “FromMyLifeToYourHeart,” which she began in 2014. Angie has participated in VIP Panels, offered live speeches regarding the impact and consequences of impaired driving, has participated in and spoke at Mock Drunk Driving Crashes, and more. In her personal volunteer life, Angie serves as a Crisis Care Chaplain to local Emergency Responders and victims of crisis within the State of North Dakota. Angie was raised in North Dakota, educated in North Dakota, married in North Dakota, and has raised her children in North Dakota. Angie is looking forward to bringing the presence of MADD right here to the state and thereby, striving toward awareness and advocacy with the goal to make North Dakota, and beyond, a safer place for all. Angie is eager to offer as much support as possible to victims of this 100% preventable crime.
Please feel free to reach out, say hello, introduce yourself and welcome Angie to the team!
NATIONAL TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK
October 15th-21st is National Teen Driver Safety Week. This week - and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel of a motor vehicle (TSM, 2023).
KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT TEEN DRIVER FATALITIES
STAY CONNECTED WITH US! We want to stay in touch with you! You can follow us on several social media platforms. MADD will frequently post what is happening on our social media. Like, follow and interact to get the latest updates on all things MADD.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States.
2,608 people were killed in crashes involving a teen passenger vehicle driver (15-18 years old) in 2021, of which 861 deaths were the teen driver. The good news, your teen looks up to you more than you think. Parents and guardians can be the biggest influence on our teen’s choices when they are behind the wheel. So set a good example for them when you’re behind the wheel - don’t drive distracted or impaired.
A few talking points to keep your teens safe:
Distractions are everywhere - driving uses a lot of brain power. They need to keep their eyes on the road, free from any obstacles. Don’t overcrowd the vehicle - studies show there is a correlation between the number of passengers and a teen driver’s risk of crashing. All drivers, regardless of age, should only take as many passengers as there are available seat belts. Never Ride with an Impaired Driver - Talk to your teen about the importance of finding another ride home and run thru other options with them.
VICTIM SERVICES CONTACTS
Minnesota Courtni Peterson 651.523.0802 ext.2757 courtni.peterson@madd.org North Dakota Angela Kutzer 701.987.6514 ext.2800 angela.kutzer@madd.org South Dakota Rachel Martens 605.309.3942 ext. 2752 rachel.martens@madd.org
For more information, statistics and material go to Traffic Safety Marketing’s website at trafficsafetymarketing.gov or by clinking on the photo below.
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