MAAD honors local law enforcement - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

MAAD honors local law enforcement

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By Taylor Sanders - email
MADD officials took home the chapter of the year award MADD officials took home the chapter of the year award
Tift Co. Sheriff says education is the key to less DUIs Tift Co. Sheriff says education is the key to less DUIs

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ALBANY, GA (WALB) -

Over 300 people died last year alone in Georgia from accidents involving drunk drivers.

But even more were taken off the roads and charged with DUIs.

Saturday afternoon, hundreds of volunteers, local law enforcement officers, and Georgia State Patrol officials were thanked for all they do.

"We appreciate the officers for everything they do out there. They risk their lives out there to make our streets safer for us and this was all for them," says South Georgia MADD chapter leader Gary Robinson.

Officials says if it weren't for them, the safety of Georgia roads would be left in the hands of drunk drivers.

"One out of every four fatalities that occurs on Georgia roads involves a drunk driver. Every time we make an arrest that is one less person who hopefully won't be drinking and driving and won't be endangering their lives or the lives of someone else," says GOHS Director Harris Blackwood.

Blackwood took time to honor and thank those who put their lives in harms way each and everyday.

"This is a chance to say thank you to people who work late at night, weekends all in the name of saving lives on Georgia roads and that is important."

GOSH teamed up with the South Georgia chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving which covers 47 counties in the state. One of the departments they honored was Tift county Sheriff's Office and their newly elected Sheriff Gene Scarborough. Scarborough says he's going to continue to educate young drivers on the dangers of getting behind the wheel intoxicated.

"I want to get into the education and the champs program and continue with the rest of this year at least continue with the dare program and educate these kids about the ills of drinking and driving," says Scarborough.

And MADD officials say every year they want to continue to lower the amount of alcohol-related fatalities in Georgia.

The south Georgia chapter of MADD was recently named chapter of the year at a national conference in Washington D.C.

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