For potential sponsors

Dear Potential Sponsor:

Our most recent data shows that every year alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes in Massachusetts kill nearly 200 people and seriously injure thousands more. These are deaths and injuries that we can help prevent by acknowledging, publicizing, and enforcing one simple fact: drinking and driving is never safe – for anyone.  We are calling on you and other business and community leaders in the Commonwealth because we need your help in solving this serious problem.

Tough enforcement, laws, and penalties have helped remove drunk drivers from our roads, but more can be done.  This year we intend to strengthen our efforts through a pilot program called Good To Drive?, which focuses on the importance of utilizing designated drivers.

Our aim is to support a person’s decision to become a designated driver. Too often, particularly among young adults, the person who has had the least to drink erroneously feels that he or she is “sober enough” to drive.  Such poor decisions have lead to unnecessary deaths and injuries across our Commonwealth. We want to promote a different approach: the smartest and safest plan for a night out is to choose a driver who will commit in advance to abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages for the evening.

Lt. Governor Timothy Murray and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security will launch the Good To Drive? initiative on June 2, 2008 to mark the start of Massachusetts’ Designated Driver Month.  Lt. Governor Murray noted, “We want to bring local businesses, organizations and community leaders together in a concerted effort to reduce drunk driving and the needless tragedy it causes. Designated drivers are a critical component of making Massachusetts ‘good to drive’ for everyone.” 

As a recognized business leader, we invite you to join us in delivering this message to young adults ages 21-34 by becoming a sponsor/partner. Our message will be delivered in a variety of ways:

• Display of a Good to Drive? decal in establishment windows to indicate participation and support of the designated driver program
• Direct delivery of Good To Drive? key chain cards at businesses related to consumer driving products and activities
• Sponsorship of special Good To Drive? promotions and events at participating locations
• Distribution of Good To Drive? informational inserts in organization and business mailings, newsletters, and e-mail messages reaching members and clients
• Funding, outreach, and placement of Good to Drive? radio, TV and print public service announcements

Our initial program effort will focus on the Boston and Worcester metro regions and will expand throughout the state as we gather support and funding in the coming months. Boston City Councilor Robert Consalvo, a leader in the city’s effort to curb drunk driving, added, “I believe designated drivers are true heroes who save lives. I am happy to take part in the Good to Drive? campaign and encourage businesses and organizations to help promote it.”

We hope you will be among the first level of sponsors and community partners to help kick-off this important effort. We welcome the opportunity to provide you with a personal presentation of the Good To Drive? campaign plan and to work with you as a key partner in this important lifesaving program. We will be contacting you shortly to arrange a meeting at your earliest convenience.

Please feel free to contact Ethan Tavan at 617-725-3335 and/or visit www.mass.gov/goodtodrive if you have any questions.

Thank you for your consideration.  We look forward to working together in the near future.

Sincerely,

Kevin M. Burke, Secretary
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

Sheila Burgess, Director
Highway Safety Division
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security