MADD EFFORT IS WORKING

Another seasonal effort worthy of notice is the red-ribbon campaign of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Several thousand red ribbons have been handed out by the Cape Girardeau Police Department as a part of this campaign. Motorists are encouraged to put the ribbons on their cars and trucks to remind themselves and others not to drink and drive.

This is the sixth year for this project, and the effort appears to be paying off. Nationally, deaths from drunken driving accidents have dropped nearly a third over the past dozen years. The decline is attributed to new state laws and to awareness efforts like MADD's red-ribbon campaign.

The lost of life, of course, is the most tragic and costly consequence of drunken driving accidents. But there is a staggering monetary cost too, mostly for insurance companies and health-care providers: $46.1 billion in 1990, the latest year for which figures are available. In 1993 there were 14,589 intoxicated drivers involved in fatal accidents.

Thanks to MADD and others who have fought against drunken driving, every state now has a minimum drinking age of 21. Most states have reduced the standard for intoxication to a blood-alcohol level of 0.10 percent. Enforcement of drunk-driving laws has been stepped up. Social pressure against driving drunk has increased dramatically.

Unfortunately, there are major battles yet to be won before there are no more deaths due to drunken driving. Putting a red ribbon on your car may sound like such a little thing to do. But it might remind one more motorist to be safe rather than sorry. That is worth the effort.