"Every day we provide an ear to listen , a hand to hold and a shoulder to
lean on for victims/survivors of drunk driving.C.org/psa .

elizabeth drunk

Department of Justice, Office of Justice
Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance and administered by the Office for
Victims of Crime. We want to change that so more drunk driving victims/survivors
can find help and hope.6 percent) of the respondents to the
Farmers poll said motorists who use hand-held cell phones, read
newspapers or operate in-dashboard computers while driving should be
subject to a penalty or fine.

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies(R) is the nation's
third-largest Personal Lines Property + Casualty insurance group.

tributes heaven

First-Ever National Victim Services Public Awareness Campaign Shows Heart of
MADD

IRVING, Texas, Mothers Against Drunk Driving
(MADD) revealed today the organization's best kept secret -- free victim
services -- with the release of its first-ever national victim services public
awareness campaign. The light turns green and the driver in front of you
continues to chat on the phone -- obviously more occupied with the
conversation than with the road. "They all divert
the driver's attention from the most important task at hand, which is
to operate the vehicle safely.

Personal grooming -- brushing hair or teeth, shaving, putting
on makeup should be done before getting into the vehicle .com

fifteen elizabeth

And while 68.

Review map directions before getting on the road.

Memorials to those killed by drunk drivers.

drivers peek

More than 1,200 trained victim advocates
across the country are available the moment a family is tragically touched by
drunk driving and for as long as needed.

cut brent

Victim advocates can help with
support groups, applying for government funded financial assistance, attending
DUI criminal and civil court proceedings with victim families or in place of
them, writing victim impact statements and more.madd.
MADD is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with the theme "MADD
Celebrates Life," which speaks to the 300,000 lives MADD has helped saved
through its lifesaving work. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.

1998 darren

MADD understands and
can help pick up the pieces," says Debbie Weir, director of victim services. Every year, more than
17,000 people are killed and half a million others are injured in alcohol-
related traffic crashes. While you may be in stop and
go traffic, one two-second glance down at the page could cause
you to miscalculate your response to the vehicle in front of
you.

Avoid talking on a cell phone while driving. If the phone
rings, allow the voice-mail to take a message and return the
call after stopping at a safe location.

memoriam elizabeth

The theme, "We help survivors survive," anchors the
campaign , which is funded by the U.S. Calling MADD has helped me feel like I
can live again.

tribute sarah

MADD Reveals Its Best Kept Secret: Free Victim Services

org/victims .

drunk heaven

Hamilton, MADD national president. "Although we are one of the leading crime
victim assistance organizations in the nation, our victim services are not
widely known. "My son and I were seriously injured in a drunk driving
crash three years ago.S. The NHTSA found that 16-year-old drivers were 50 percent more
likely to be killed when there is another passenger in the vehicle.

heaven driving

Since research shows that three out of every ten
Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime, the
campaign was also designed to inform the public where to turn for help in the
event they are impacted or know someone who has been affected. Now I have a
victim advocate I can talk to.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES ----We've all experienced
it -- you're behind a vehicle where the driver is on a cell phone at a
red light signal.
"These distractions are a major concern, not only for those
drivers but for pedestrians , bike riders, drivers and passengers in
other vehicles," said Jeff Beyer, senior vice-president + chief
communications officer for Farmers Insurance Group."
The number of motorists using hand -held cell phones has greatly
increased driver distraction.
More than seven in ten (70.

reedy drivers

Illora Herndon of Hesperia, Calif.
"As a result of this campaign, we hope more victims/survivors come to MADD for
help and that the public will hear about our supportive victim services and
tell others.

Do not reach for items in the back seat or in the glove
compartment while driving.

cut 1998

Victims/survivors can also find MADD's victim services by calling
their local chapter or state office or by going online at
http://www.
Distracted driving can take many forms: using a cell phone,
adjusting the radio, talking to passengers, "rubbernecking," reading a
map, cleaning the windshield, attending to children or pets, eating or
drinking, picking things up off the floor and personal grooming are
just some examples. "The
major distraction with mobile phones is the conversation and making
and receiving phone calls, so drivers are similarly distracted whether
they use a conventional cell phone or a hands-free device.

mothers 1981

There are several campaign materials including print ads, which are
currently running in People (January 24 issue) and Woman's Day
(February issue)., saw the ad in Woman's Day and
immediately called."
In June 2001, Herndon and her 5-year-old son, Dakota, swerved to miss an
oncoming drunk driver when the drunk driver also swerved causing Herndon to
broadside the offender's car.

brent heaven

All that time I have felt like no one understands what
I am going through, but when I saw the ad, I knew MADD would. MADD has approximately 600 chapters and two million supporters and
members nationwide with affiliates in Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico and Sweden.5 percent of the
respondents to the Farmers survey felt that hands-free cell phones are
safer than hand-held phones, it doesn't eliminate the distraction.

heaven killed

And it's all for free," says Wendy J.

Herndon called the new MADD toll free victim hotline number --
877-MADD-HELP -- which is listed on all of the campaign materials.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), distracted drivers are a factor in 25 to 50 percent of all
vehicle crashes -- or between 4,000 and 8,000 crashes each day --
resulting in an estimated $40-$80 billion in damages annually . For more information
about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.

drivers tribute

MADD victim advocates across the country served more than
27,000 victims/survivors of drunk driving in 2003.
"Hands-free phones aren't risk-free," Beyer pointed out.

driver fifteen

Print ads are also currently running in several trade publications
targeting professions that are typically the first contacts for new victims of
drunk driving such as police officers, sheriff's deputies, nurses, funeral
home directors and district attorneys. Department
of Justice."
In addition, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of those polled
favored stricter driving rules for teens, advocating a limit to the
number of passengers young drivers may carry.

Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations while
driving.farmers.

whose daughter

"There are thousands of people whose hearts have been broken and lives
shattered due to a preventable drunk driving tragedy.

elizabeth memoriam

The number
was created to make sure victims/survivors are immediately connected to the
victim services department at the MADD national office. Founded in 1980, MADD's mission is to stop drunk
driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage
drinking .org . 2003-DD-BX-1083 and Grant No.
2003-DD-BX-K008 awarded by the Office of Justice Programs, U .S.

Motorists Claim Distractions Affect Their Driving; Farmers Insurance Group of Companies Survey Shows 4 in 5 Drivers Say Their Skills Diminish When They Lose Fo

In a new survey by the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, more
than 80 percent of drivers admitted their competence behind the wheel
suffers when they are subjected to distractions. A study by the New England Journal of
Medicine found that talking on a mobile phone while driving quadruples
the risk of an accident -- a rate similar to that of drunk driving.

killed tributes

I plan to attend support groups and share my
story in hopes that it helps others .
For more information, visit http://www.
Eighty three percent of respondents acknowledged their ability to
concentrate on driving is compromised by such activities as eating or
drinking, talking on their cell phones, adjusting their radios or CD
players, etc.
Farmers Insurance offers the following tips to help prevent
drivers from becoming distracted while operating a motor vehicle:

Make adjustments to radios, seats, air conditioning and
mirrors before putting the vehicle in gear.

memoriam drivers

"
MADD has served bereaved and injured drunk driving victims/survivors since
the organization started in 1980. The offender had a . The PSAs are available to view or download online at
http://www.madd. Department of
Justice.

1983 darren

A print ad is also available in
Spanish . For teen drivers,
distractions tend to produce tragic results with alarming fatality
rates.

daughter darren

The public awareness campaign was created to raise public awareness of
MADD's victim services among drunk driving victims/survivors who may not know
of the support available.19 percent blood alcohol
content, more than double the illegal drunk driving limit in California and
all 50 states and D. The drunk driver was sentenced to two years in state
prison."
Other campaign elements include a new MADD Victim Services logo, a
30-second television public service announcement (PSA ) directed by award-
winning director Noam Murro, two one-minute radio PSAs, billboards and
brochures .madd.
This project was supported by Grant No.
That figure jumped to 200 percent when there were three or more
passengers.

death 1981

With that emotional support
also comes practical information such as guidance through the court system and
help untangling financial problems. Beginning this
February, a trained grief counselor will answer the line after business hours
and on weekends so victims/survivors can find help 24 hours a day, seven days
a week.

Refrain from reading in the car. If you are in a heated conversation with a passenger
in the car , pull off the road and out of traffic to a safe
area until the situation is under control .
Headquartered in Los Angeles and doing business in 41 states, the
insurers comprising the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies(R)
provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial
services to more than 10 million households through 17,000 exclusive
and independent agents and district managers.