DALLAS (6/18/09)—Today, MADD announced that it is proud to support House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar and Ranking Member John Mica as well as Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Peter DeFazio and Ranking Member Jim Duncan as they introduced the blueprint for the next highway reauthorization bill. 

 

“The blueprint includes bold initiatives which will have a dramatic impact on highway safety in America and MADD profoundly thanks Chairman Oberstar and the House T&I Committee for their vision and commitment to highway safety,” said MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney.

 

Included in the bill is a doubling of the budget for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which sets state performance standards for a national agenda for highway safety. This funding will give states more opportunities to focus on programs and initiatives that are proven effective in saving lives. 

 

Two strategies proven effective are primary seat belt laws and ignition interlock laws. According to the blueprint, states must pass these laws or be subject to a penalty. In New Mexico, for example, DUI fatalities have been reduced by 35 percent since increased high visibility enforcement efforts and requiring all convicted DUI offenders to use an ignition interlock device. 

 

“The national 21 minimum drinking age and the .08 per se law both resulted from federal highway sanctions. History tells us that this approach works,” said Dean-Mooney. “MADD looks forward to supporting Chairman Oberstar and the rest of the House T&I Committee as this process moves forward.”

 

The bill is a major step forward toward the elimination of drunk driving. The Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving was launched in 2006 with four principles:

 

 

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