WRAP Reporter
1999 Annual Report

Alexandria Police Spearhead Region's Lifesaving Holiday Driving Safety Campaign

In the last 10 days of December, WRAP’s SoberRide ^TM provided more free, safe rides home for would-be drunk drivers keeping area roads safe and holiday moments bright. The region’s free cab service, one of the most successful efforts of its kind in the nation, dispatched 1,165 cab rides to would-be impaired drivers who arrived home safely to celebrate many more holidays.

Why all the concern? As WRAP Chairman John Moulden (Transportation Safety Associates) explained, "With the increased number of celebrations and events involving alcohol use, the December holidays are traditionally one of the deadliest times of the year on our nations' highways."

Chairman John Moulden (Transportation Safety Associates) holds a framed proclamation from Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donely declaring December as "Drunk and Drugged Driving Month."

Underscoring this point, Bill Jewel, a Prince William County resident, shared his emotional story during WRAP’s 1998 Greater Washington Holiday Safe Driving Campaign kick-off event. Jewell told how his new bride, Kimberly, was killed in an alcohol- related traffic crash on New Year’s Eve, 1997. The Chart House Restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia, hosted the December 1 news conference and reception.

Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donley, left, thanks WRAP Chairman John Moulden (Transportation Safety Associates) for the organization's efforts to keep his constituents and all residents safe during the holidays.

US Congressman James Moran and Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donely along with several hundred area police, corporate sponsors, traffic safety advocates, citizens and victims joined the media to kick-off the annual campaign that sought to prevent needless tragedies such as Jewell’s. The Alexandria police, on behalf of the region's law enforcement community, spearheaded WRAP’s holiday initiative for the first time. Alexandria Police Chief Charles Samarra used the media event to warn residents that area police would be out in record numbers over the holidays to keep area roads safe.

"We want everyone to know we are out there ready to arrest those who attempt to drive impaired."

District of Columbia Police Chief Charles Ramsey, left, applauds Det. Joseph Diliberto as he is presented one of the first WRAP Awards of Excellence by Lisa Woefel (Cellular One) and Lt. Pamela Simms, far right.

Mayor Donley declared December as "Drunk and Drugged Driving Month" in Alexandria, tying into national efforts to keep the holiday season safe. He presented WRAP Chairman John Moulden with a framed proclamation announcing the declaration. Also during the event, area police were honored for their outstanding efforts to stop impaired drivers when WRAP presented its first-ever "Awards of Excellence."

WRAP distributed thousands of campaign posters and collateral materials---designed by Equals Three Communications---along with MADD red ribbons and other materials throughout the metro region to call attention to WRAP’s SoberRide^TM and safety behind the wheel. The materials were also displayed in scores of area bars and restaurants through Interior Displays, an indoor billboard service, underwritten by GEICO Insurance in support of safe driving. GEICO again sponsored the production and distribution of "WRAP’s Corporate Guide to Safe Holidays & Safe Driving" featuring drunk driving laws, safe party tips and non-alcoholic recipes which were sent to thousands of local businesses and government agencies.

Additional materials, printed by Giant Food, were also distributed at a Washington Capitals ice hockey game at the MCI Center in December. Electronic signs inside the area promoted WRAP's SoberRide ^TM and sober driving. WRAP also addressed nearly 1,500 area residents through employee presentations and health fairs about the dangers of holiday impaired driving.

WRAP’s SoberRide ^TM for the holiday season was sponsored by AT&T, Budweiser, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, GEICO Insurance and the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association that collectively helped keep the holidays safer in the region.

Back to Top

---

1998 Holiday SoberRide^TM Sponsors

Anheuser-Busch & Local Distributors
AT&T
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
GEICO Insurance
Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA)

1998 CAMPAIGN PARTNERS

Alexandria Police Department
Alexandria Yellow Cab
Barwood Transportation
Blue Bird, Checker, Yellow Cab
Capitol Outdoor Media/Interior Displays
Chart House Restaurant, Alexandria
DC Department of Public Works
Equals Three Communications
The Greater Washington
Board of Trade
Manassas Cab Company
Maryland Highway Safety Office, State Highway Administration
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Mobil Corporation
Taxi Transportation/Cabs Inc.
Transportation General/Red Top Cab
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA)