24/7 Movement highlights dangers of impaired driving

EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) – The 24/7 Movement partnered with the East Ridge Police Department for Community Safety Day at Camp Jordan, bringing an important message to the forefront: the devastating consequences of impaired and distracted driving.

One of the day’s standout attractions was the Safe Driving Impairment Course.

Participants were given the chance to experience what it feels like to drive under the influence — without the life-threatening risks.

Although the setup was designed to be engaging and approachable, the underlying message was serious.

Organizers hoped that by simulating impairment, they could effectively demonstrate how dangerous and life-altering poor driving decisions can be.

Randy Bonner, Executive Director of the 24/7 Movement, expressed the heart behind the organization’s mission.

“Well, the 24/7 Movement comes from a tragic crash that happened on Christmas Day, 2022, when Britney and Dustin Dillard were on their way to a final Christmas celebration with her three boys — a family of five — and they were hit by a drunk driver on Highway 64 in Bradley County. Britney and Dustin were killed instantly as a result,” Bonner explained.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Dillard family’s loss ignited a movement.

The 24/7 Movement was born from a desire to prevent other families from facing the same unbearable grief.

The organization is dedicated to ending impaired and distracted driving through education, outreach, and community events like Community Safety Day.

Throughout the event, members of the 24/7 team emphasized the importance of making safe choices behind the wheel.

“It’s important for people to drive sober — don’t drive distracted,” said Brady Fox, an employee with the 24/7 Movement, stressing that even minor lapses in attention can lead to irreversible consequences.

The East Ridge Police Department, too, shared their hopes for the event’s impact.

Traffic Investigator Dylan McCloud spoke about the rise in impaired driving incidents the community has seen in recent months.

“Don’t drive drunk. We’ve had so many crashes that involve drunk drivers lately, that has led to serious injuries to even fatalities, and we’re just trying to stop them,” McCloud elaborated.

Both the police and the 24/7 Movement agree: even one life lost is too many.

Their mission is not just about statistics — it’s about real families and real futures forever changed.

Ultimately, the hope is simple but powerful — that no other family will have to endure the pain and loss that the Dillards’ loved ones continue to live with each day.

To learn more about the 24/7 Movement and its efforts to end impaired driving, click here.