Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Velodyne LiDAR, Inc., have launched a public awareness campaign to promote autonomous vehicles as new kind of designated driver to eliminate drunk driving.

To kick off the social media campaign that uses the hashtag #VelodyneMADD, Silicon Valley-based Velodyne recently released LiDAR 101, a video that explains how the technology of driverless cars works.

LiDAR technology sees beyond the scope of the human eye — in rain, snow, fog, and high-glare situations. In real-time and at the high speeds of highway driving, the Velodyne LiDAR 3D vision system enables the safety and security of the future of autonomous driving.

"Autonomous vehicle technology has the potential of eliminating drunk driving, which is why I'm excited to work with Velodyne," said Colleen Sheehey-Church, national president, MADD.

About 94% of crashes are attributed to human behavior. Drunk driving, specifically, kills someone every 49 minutes.

The long-term goal of the collaboration is to advance autonomous vehicle technology and eliminate all roadway collisions caused by human error and negligence. The partnership envisions LiDAR technology as the designated driver of the future.  

"As the leading innovator and manufacturer of LiDAR technology, we are committed to providing clear and compelling educational resources for better public understanding. LiDAR technology can be the 'designated driver' of the future, providing the reliable 3D perception needed for autonomous driving and advanced safety systems," said Marta Hall, president, Velodyne LiDAR, Inc.