Chief Marketing Officer of Uber, Jill Hazelbaker, announced a partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) aimed at empowering individuals to make responsible choices to prevent impaired driving and promote road safety. The statement was posted on the MADD website on December 17.
"We're proud to partner with MADD to raise awareness about the critical importance of impaired driving prevention," said Hazelbaker, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Policy. "By working together, we can empower individuals to make responsible choices, reduce alcohol-related crashes, and help ensure our roads are safer for everyone."
The campaign by MADD and Uber, launched during Impaired Driving Prevention Month, seeks to raise both funds and awareness to address impaired driving. From December 17, 2024, to January 3, 2025, Uber riders can contribute directly to MADD through the Uber app. Uber will match up to $250,000 in donations, effectively doubling the impact. The funds will support MADD’s prevention education, advocacy for stronger impaired driving laws, and free services for victims and survivors.
According to Policygenius, a study analyzing data from 2018 to 2022 found that during holiday periods, 37.4% of all fatal car accidents involved a drunk driver compared to 29.4% during non-holiday times. Labor Day was identified as the holiday with the highest number of drunk-driving-involved fatal accidents during that period.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that during the Christmas and New Year holiday periods, drunk-driving deaths see a notable increase. Recent data shows that December drunk-driving deaths in the U.S. are at their highest levels in 15 years.
Uber’s official website states that the company was founded in 2009 by Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick in San Francisco, California. Initially a ride-hailing platform, Uber has since expanded to offer food delivery through Uber Eats, freight transport, and other services. By 2024, Uber operates in over 70 countries and 10,500 cities, serving more than 150 million monthly active users.
MADD’s official history reveals that the organization was founded in 1980 by Candace Lightner after her daughter was killed by a drunk driver. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, MADD’s mission is to end drunk driving, support victims of this crime, and prevent underage drinking. Since its inception, MADD’s advocacy has contributed to a 50% reduction in drunk driving fatalities and has saved an estimated 300,000 lives.
