MISSION

Related Websites

THANKS...

Anne Colle, of Anne Colle Interiors and Belgotex. Candy Smith and Russel Comrie for a dancing display Fund raiser at TWC, and for The Wykeham Collegiate School, for hosting the dancing display.
The Scan Shop - scanshop@iafrica.com.
Ken Ludwig.

Other sponsors:
Dr. Mike Smit
PLUSH

Also a big thank you to everybody who stuck on a SADD bumper sticker to show their support. To have your free SADD bumper sticker posted to you click here.
We appreciate your help and kind support

Every year about 18,000 South Africans die in motor vehicle crashes. 150,000 other people are injured, often seriously. This costs the SA economy R43 Billion a year. Alcohol is involved in about 50% of the cases. Be pro-active. Join SADD to make a difference.

ABOUT SADD

SADD Founder Caro Smit is a Psychiatric Social Worker, Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Educator. She has worked in this field for the past 10 years and lives in Pietermaritzburg. Her son Chas Smit (lead guitarist of the band Plush) was killed in a drink and drive incident on September 18th 2005, leading her to start the organization in January 2006. TRIBUTES   Present Projects 1.Stellenbosch Pilot Project. Working with Traffic Police, Newspapers, as well as students in Residences and Churches, Community Police Forum, Doctors at Medi-clinics. Draeger 7110 (worth R80,000) already kindly donated by Draeger for the Project. 2.Designing a Treatment Program for Drunk Drivers that SADD will recommend is used nationally for every person convicted of a drunken driving conviction. 3.Designing Posters and Handouts on Drinking and Driving, Units of Alcohol etc. Tavern & Shebeen Project, PMB We are in great need of funding, to execute this and other projects. Other exciting projects in the early planning stages! Watch this space!   UNITS OF ALCOHOL: Just how much can you drink – and drive? If you’ like to have your say on drunken driving in South Africa, E-mail: carosmit@sadd.org.za And it’ll appear on our feedback page.

ALTERNATIVES TO DRUNK DRIVING (click here)

Very SADD posters

PLUSH CD's and DVD's can be ordered via the website at www.plush.us

SADD T-shirts available
for R50 each contact
SADD to order yours

SADD is the official distributor for the Drunk Buster goggles in South Africa. These goggles realistically allow people to experience the effects of alcohol without the danger of being behind the wheel. SADD would like all education facilities, transport and safety organizations to be using these goggles as part of their education programmes. For more information please contact us.

OBJECTIVES

1. Create awareness of the Drinking & Driving/Walking problem in South Africa, as 9,000 people die each year,& 75,000 others are injured, due to alcohol misuse.
This costs our Economy R25 Billion a yr.
Engage the Media to report incidences - this is proven to stop Drunk Driving.

2. Work with the Law and others, to pressurize the Government to implement proper and prohibitive law. Responsible driving generally only comes about because people are afraid of the Legal and Financial repercussions of their actions. I.e. Heavy fines /Suspended Licenses / Alcohol Treatment/Jail.

3. Drivers licenses need to be automatically suspended as per the National Road Traffic Act. 1st offence - 6mths; 2nd offence - 5yrs; 3rd or subsequent offence - 10 yrs or more. This is one proven thing that stops recidivism. Start imprisoning offenders especially for repeat transgressions. Imprisonment of 6yrs allowed. In the case of death from drink driving, imprisonment of up to 9 years allowed. Confiscation of cars in serious cases. (4x OLL, and serious injuries/death.).

4. Frequent random breath alcohol testing (RBT) needed all year. Use Breath Alcohol Testers (Draegers) in all Provinces. They are Legal in SA!!

5. Traffic Officers need to be on duty for 24 hours a day, & especially after 12pm on Friday & Saturday nights, when many crashes happen. Test all crash drivers for alcohol. Increase no. of Traffic Officers.

6. The Government needs to appoint more Policemen to assist with drink – driving issues, including charging drink drivers, accompanying them for blood tests, and taking statements after car crashes.

7. Implementation of a program for graduated licensing for novice drivers. Zero alcohol for New Drivers for 3 yrs. 0,00g per 100ml BAL for first 3 years after getting your license, regardless of age.

8. Education via talks, articles, posters, pamphlets on Drinking and Driving / Effects on Driving Skills, Units of Alcohol. Provide free information on SADD website.

9. Implementation of referral of all drink drivers & severely intoxicated trauma patients for substance abuse treatment. This should include information about Units of Alcohol, and the effect of alcohol on driving skills, assessment of Alcoholism, etc. Work with NICRO re Community Service sentences.

10. Recommend that the money generated from drink driving and speeding fines be used by Dept. of Transport, and RTMC, to be used to make the roads safer.

11. Ask for the introduction of a graduated sentencing and fining system, according to the number of drinks a person is over the legal limit. (As in the fining system that has been implemented with speeding.)The Law allows fines of up to R120, 000 for Drink Driving, and R180, 000 for Culpable Homicide.

12. Implement the Points Demerit System.

13. Provide Breathalyzers free, like condoms. This will save the country millions of Rands.

14. No open canisters of alcohol should be allowed in a vehicle.

15. Publish the names and Blood Alcohol Level/Breath Alcohol Content, (BAL/BAC) of offenders in each Newspaper, around the country. This is proven to stop drunk driving.

__________________________

“My daughter, Melindi (now 12 years old) has been paralysed since age 4, after she was in a car accident.
Needless to say, the other driver was under the influence.”
- Hanna van Eck, mother of Melindi

25 people are put into wheelchairs daily due to car crashes in South Africa.

____________________________

I went to a party,

And remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mum
So I had a sprite instead.

I felt proud of myself,

The way you said I would,
That I didn't drink and drive,
Though some friends said I should.

I made a healthy choice,

And your advice to me was right,
The party finally ended,
And the kids drove out of sight.

I got into my car,

Sure to get home in one piece,
I never knew what was coming, Mum
Something I expected least.

Now I'm lying on the pavement,

And I hear the policeman say,
The kid that caused this wreck was drunk,
Mum, his voice seems far away.

My own blood's all around me,

As I try hard not to cry.
I can hear the paramedic say,
This girl is going to die.

I'm sure the guy had no idea,

While he was flying high,
Because he chose to drink and drive,
Now I would have to die.

So why do people do it, Mum

Knowing that it ruins lives?
And now the pain is cutting me,
Like a hundred stabbing knives.

Someone should have taught him,
That it's wrong to drink and drive.
Maybe if his parents had,
I'd still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter, Mum

I'm getting really scared.
These are my final moments,
And I'm so unprepared.

I wish that you could hold me Mum,

As I lie here and die.
I wish that I could say, "I love you, Mum!"
So I love you and good-bye.

_________________________