NASHVILLE– The Fourth of July is traditionally a time for family togetherness and summertime fun, however, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Tennessee warns that it can also be a dangerous time for those traveling on I-40 and other roadways . In 2010, 155 people were killed nationwide in drunk driving crashes over the holiday weekend, and 80 percent of those crashes took place at night, between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m.

“Too many of us at MADD know the pain of losing a loved one in a drunk driving crash, so it’s our hope that by drawing attention to the increased dangers associated with a holiday like the Fourth of July, we can save other families the heartache and devastation caused by drunk driving,” said Flint Clouse, MADD Tennessee State Executive Director. “MADD encourages people to plan ahead for a safe way home if their plans include alcohol.”

Across the country in 2010, more than 10,000 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, and another 345,000 were injured. As part of the nationwide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on drunk driving around Fourth of July, Tennessee law enforcement will be intensifying their efforts to deter and detect drunk driving, in order to prevent these needless deaths and injuries.

For more information about MADD Tennessee, visit MADDTN.org. And to learn more about MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, which includes support for high-visibility law enforcement, go to www.madd.org/campaign.