MARYVILLE, Mo. – As people prepare to ring in the New Year, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is reminding the public to celebrate responsibly and plan ahead for a safe ride home.
“Go out, celebrate, have a great time, make wonderful memories, but make them responsibly,” said Tabitha Perkins, State Executive Director for MADD Missouri.
While the calendar may be turning, Perkins says MADD’s mission remains the same: preventing and stopping impaired driving.
This New Year’s Eve marks the 30th year MADD Missouri will host its annual awareness event at the Waterway Car Wash in Brentwood. Volunteers will engage with drivers and tie red ribbons to vehicles as a visible reminder of the impact impaired driving can have on families and communities.
“We’re going to tie a red ribbon on your car,” Perkins said. “We’re going to engage with you in a nice manner just to remind you about what the impact impaired driving has.”
Thanks for signing up!
Watch for us in your inbox.
Subscribe Now
She added that the presence of victims and survivors is especially meaningful.
“The most important thing is for our victims and survivors to be able to speak firsthand to the general public and remind them about the impact that it’s had on them,” she added.
The event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Waterway Richmond Heights, located at 1200 S. Brentwood Blvd., Richmond Heights, MO 63117.
Law enforcement is also preparing for a busy night.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police said officers will be patrolling the roads looking for impaired drivers.
“Plan ahead,” said SLMPD’s Sean Mazzola. “Make sure you have a designated driver. Utilize rideshare.”
Perkins echoed that message, encouraging people to budget for a safe ride home.
“When you leave the house tomorrow night, and you have 50, 60 bucks, a couple hundred bucks to go out for the evening, set aside some money for a sober driver,” she said. “In today’s society, you push a button on your phone, and you can have a rideshare vehicle in front of the establishment within five to10 minutes—and that’s what we encourage everybody to do.”
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Leave a Reply