Pirelli, MADD forge partnership for safety

DALLAS — Pirelli Tire North America Inc. is partnering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to raise funds for MADD's efforts to enhance highway safety.

To raise funds, Pirelli is running a rebate program through July 5 on selected Pirelli tires and will donate $5 to MADD for every set of qualifying tires sold. In addition, Pirelli said it will encourage customers to match the donation.

The rebate — in the form of a $60 prepaid VISA card — applies to a range of 60 different tires from Pirelli's PZero, Scorpion, Cinturato, P4, P6 and winter tire lines. The complete list, along with contest rules, can be seen at: www.us.pirelli.com/promotions.

The rebated offer started May 26.

"We are grateful to Pirelli for recognizing the critical need that drunk driving is still the leading threat on our roads and responding with support that will save lives," said Colleen Sheehey-Church, MADD National President. Ms. Sheehey-Church's 18-year-old son Dustin was killed in an underage drunk and drugged driving crash.

In 2015, more than 10,000 people were killed and 290,000 people were injured in drunk driving crashes in the U.S. — or one death every 51 minutes and one injury every 2 minutes, MADD said.

Every day, an estimated 300,000 drunk drivers take to American roads.

In response, MADD focuses on awareness and advocacy by urging people to designate a non-drinking driver if their plans include alcohol, pushing for lifesaving legislation and providing free supportive services to victims of drunk driving.

Since MADD's founding in 1980, drunk driving deaths have decreased by 53 percent, resulting in an estimated 350,000 lives being saved.

"Pirelli is pleased to be supporting MADD and its efforts to promote safe driving with both American families and young drivers," said Pierluigi Dinelli, CEO and Chairman Pirelli Tire North America.

"Safety has always been very important to us in terms of developing new tires for our customers, which is why we have our 'power is nothing without control' motto. We hope we can help raise even more awareness for this worthy cause to drive making safe choices, as ultimately it will make roads safer and benefit everyone."