LA City Hall lit in red to honor of victims of drunken, drugged driving

Los Angeles City Hall was lit in red Friday evening in honor and memory of victims of drunken and drugged driving in connection with the start of Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s 36th annual “Tie One On for Safety” campaign.

This was the first time Los Angeles City Hall has been lit red in memory of victims of drunken and drugged driving, according to Patricia Rillera, MADD’s state executive director.

A candlelight vigil was held to mark the start of the campaign, MADD’s longest-running designated driver and public awareness program. The campaign highlights efforts to save lives during one of the most dangerous times of the year on the nation’s roadways — the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

From 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Eve in 2020, there were 1,133 drunken driving fatalities across the nation, accounting for 30% of all traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The campaign asks drivers to tie a red ribbon — or more recently place red ribbon magnets or decals — on their car as a reminder to always designate a non-drinking driver. Its name stems from when people would use the phrase “tie one on” as slang for consuming alcohol.

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