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MADD: plan to eradicate drunk driving working

DALLAS — On Nov. 20, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) celebrated the third anniversary of its campaign to eliminate drunk driving.

"We are on track to achieve MADD's goal of eliminating drunk driving," said Laura Dean-Mooney, national president of MADD. "The goal of the campaign is to ensure there are no more victims of drunk driving. This is especially important given the anniversary of my husband Mike's death … . He would be proud to see these successes ensuring the future of our daughter's safety and that of other children."

The launch for the nationwide holiday crackdown of "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" is set for Dec. 14 and has been accompanied by national paid ads that MADD successfully urged congress to provide.

The group reported on progress of the four key campaign elements:

Support for high visibility law enforcement

“MADD continues to advocate for sobriety checkpoints in all 50 states, and supports full funding for law enforcement budgets,” according to a news release from the organization.

MADD conducts Law Enforcement recognition ceremonies across the country to honor extraordinary work of the men and women of law enforcement.

Ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers

The organization said it is looking at new technologies to help crack down on drunk drivers.

“Starting with one state, New Mexico, in 2005, we now have 12 states with statewide requirements for interlocks at .08 BAC [blood alcohol content] and California with a major pilot program covering four counties.

“These states cover 77 million people, with New York's law adding 21 million people just signed Nov. 18, 2009.

“Results from New Mexico and Arizona are very strong with fatality reductions of 35 percent and 33 percent respectively.”

Voluntary exploration of advanced technologies

The Cooperative Research Agreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the world's leading automobile companies is well underway, the group stated.

“Three technology companies are now under contract to develop proof of concept devices that will unobtrusively and effectively detect when the driver is over the illegal level of .08 BAC.” Design prototypes are expected to be available by the summer of 2010, and

Public support

“The elimination of drunk driving will only be achieved with the full support of the American public,” the group said.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a major public opinion poll on September 17, 2009. It found that 84 percent of the public support interlocks for convicted drunk drivers, and 64 percent support advanced technology in all vehicles to stop drunk driving.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety issued its national poll in July 2009. It found that 90 percent of the public support interlocks for convicted drunk drivers, and 78 percent support interlocks in all vehicles.

“In summary, these results prove that MADD is well underway in its goal of the elimination of drunk driving,” the group stated.

For further information go to the MADD Web site at www.madd.org .

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