Mothers Against Drunk Driving (Madd) | Research & Encyclopedia Articles

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)ﾀ is a national organization that works to reduce drunk driving and to help the victims of drunk-driving accidents. Many of MADD's members are volunteers who have personally suffered from the results of drunk driving. MADD was founded by Candy Lightner, whose 13-year old daughter, Cari, was killed by a drunk driver on May 3, 1980. Lightner was outraged to learn that only two days previously the driver had been released from jail, where he had been held for another hit-and-run drunk-driving crash. Although he had been arrested for drunk driving several times before, he was still driving with a valid California license. Lightner decided to begin a campaign to keep drunk drivers off the road, so that other mothers would not have to suffer the anguish that she was experiencing. On September 5, 1980 (Cari's birthday), MADD was incorporated.

%See Organizations of Interest at the back of Volume 3 for address, telephone, and URL.

Since then, MADD has evolved into an organization with millions of members and hundreds of local chapters across the United States. Chapters have also been started in Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, and Australia. Membership is not restricted to mothers of victims or to the victims themselves. Everyone who is concerned about the drunk-driving issue is welcome to join. Funding for the organization comes from membership dues and contributions. MADD also applies for and receives grants from federal and state governments and private organizations. Paid staff are employed to provide leadership on the state and national levels. MADD is involved in three major kinds of activity: (1) advocacy for stricter drunk-driving laws and better enforcement, (2) promotion of public awareness and educational programs, and (3) assistance to victims.

According to MADD, drunk driving is a violent crime. One of its rallying slogans is, "Murder by Car Is Still Murder!" Over the years, MADD members have worked to generate public support for passage of stricter drunk-driving laws, more appropriate punishments, and more consistent enforcement measures aimed at deterring drunk driving. In the 1980s intense lobbying efforts were undertaken for the passage of laws making 21 the minimum legal age for drinking (now in force in all fifty states). The group believes that this measure has saved thousands of lives that would have been lost in drunk-driving crashes.

MADD has also lobbied for changes in legal procedures that would make the system more responsive to victims of drunk driving. For example, in many states victims had been barred from the courtroom during the trial of the accused in their own drunk-driving cases, because their testimony (or even their presence) might prejudice the jury. As a result of the efforts of MADD and other groups, all fifty states have passed victims' rights bills. These bills ensure that victims will be notified about court hearings and, in most states, allowed to testify about the impact of the crime on their lives. Other lobbying efforts have sought to close legal loopholes that drunk drivers were using to avoid punishment. For example, some drivers refused to take a breath test for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and then were allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge. In other cases, drivers were allowed to claim that despite their BAC, their driving was not really impaired.

MADD has had a central role in the passage of over 1,000 tougher drunk-driving laws that close these loopholes and establish other deterrence measures, such as mandatory jail sentences for drunk drivers. MADD also supports efforts to require offenders to undergo treatment for alcoholism and/or drug dependency, if this is deemed necessary.

MADD is involved in various efforts to raise public awareness and concern about drunk driving. The "National Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope" is held in many locations each December, drawing victims together to give public testimony to the suffering that results from drunk driving. During the "Red Ribbon Tie One On for Safety" campaign, which takes place between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, MADD encourages citizens to attach a red ribbon to their car as a reminder to themselves and others to drive sober. MADD's well-known public awareness campaign of the past used the slogan"Think . . . Don't Drink and Drive" in public-service announcements on radio and television and in print materials. Another campaign, "Keep It a Safe Summer" (KISS) emphasized the need for sobriety during recreational activities that involve driving, boating, or other risky activities. MADD also provides curriculum materials for schools and each year sponsors a poster and essay contest for children on the subject of drunk driving.

Programs that provide aid to victims of drunk-driving crashes are at the heart of MADD's mission. Support groups help victims share their pain with others who understand their feelings. MADD members send "We Care" cards to victims of recent crashes. Specially trained victim advocates offer a one-on-one personal relationship with victims, trying to respond to both their emotional and practical needs. Victims are informed about their legal rights and on the judicial procedures relevant to their cases. They can call a toll-free number (1- 800-GET MADD) for information and for help in case of crisis. MADD also offers training for police in notifying people about the deaths of their loved ones and specialized training for other community professionals, such as clergy and medical workers, who are called upon to assist victims.

Since the founding of MADD in 1980, the percentage of traffic deaths involving alcohol has steadily decreased from almost 60 percent of all traffic deaths to around 50 percent. MADD's 1990 goal "20 × 2000" aimed to reduce that proportion by an additional 20 percent by 2000. This goal was reached three years early, in 1997. Current goals include reducing alcohol-related traffic fatalities to 11,000 or fewer by the year 2005. In 1999, MADD expanded its mission statement to include prevention of underage drinking. Future efforts will focus on more effective law enforcement, increased punishments, and prevention programs that include education for youth and more responsible practices by establishments that sell alcohol.

Blood Alcohol Concentration; Breathalyzer; Drinking Age; Driving, Alcohol, and Drugs; Students Against Destructive Decisions (Sadd).

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