MADD SPREADS ITS MESSAGE ON NEW WEB SITE

Red Ribbon Campaign Hits The Internet

DALLAS (AP) When Paul Fuhrmeister tied a red ribbon on his car as part of
Mother's Against Drunk Driving's Red Ribbon campaign, he envisioned a Web
site that would further publicize the group's holiday message.

Within a few days, Fuhrmeister contacted MADD's National Headquarters and
proposed his idea.

The call resulted in a Web site that offers an electronic MADD ribbon
banner. Web designers are asked to copy the banner and place it in a
visible place on their own Web pages.

"MADD has never done this before," Fuhrmeister said. "They had never
thought of it."

Because it is so late in the season, Fuhrmeister said, they had to work
quickly to put something together.

Last Wednesday, the site premiered as another component to the "Tie One On
for Safety" campaign, which began in 1986. The campaign asks motorists to
tie a red ribbon on their cars to remind themselves and others of the
dangers of drunken driving. The ribbon symbolizes the driver's pledge to
not drink and drive.

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton officially kicked off the "Tie One On for
Safety" program Monday at the White House with MADD National President
Katherine Prescott.

Tesa Cole at MADD's National Headquarters in Irving said using Web sites is
just another way for the organization to get the word out.

More than 17,000 people died in alcoholrelated traffic crashes last year,
according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"The holiday season should be a time of joy and celebration, but all too
often, this special time becomes marred with tragedy when someone chooses
to get behind the wheel after drinking," Prescott said in a press release.
"By tying a MADD ribbon to their automobile, motorists can work with MADD
to truly change the meaning of 'tie one on.'"