Drunk Driving Fatalities Cut in Half Since MADD's Founding
By MADD | December 8, 2011| 7 Comments | Filed in: Drunk Driving

Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released new 2010 drunk driving fatality data, announcing a reduction in drunk driving fatalities.  This new data from NHTSA shows that fatalities have dropped 4.9 percent from 10,759 in 2009 to 10,228 in 2010.

"More than 3,200 fewer people were killed last year than in the previous four years," said Jan Withers, MADD National President. "That's 3,200 families who did not receive that terrible, life-changing call or visit from law enforcement letting them know their loved one wasn't coming home again."

This decline in fatalities means that drunk driving deaths have now been cut by more than half since MADD's founding 31 years ago.  Our grassroots efforts have supported landmark legislation such as the national .08 blood alcohol concentration standard and the 21 minimum drinking age.  Together, we have changed the culture in this country, from one that accepted drunk driving as a fact of life to one that recognizes drunk driving as a 100 percent preventable crime.

We will continue to work hard to bring that number to zero, because as Jan Withers says, "One life impacted by this terrible crime is one life too many, as there are still more than 10,000 drunk driving fatalities and hundreds of thousands of injuries every year."


   

Comments

Submitted by NIkkiL at 11:00 PM on February 29, 2012
My experiences with drinking and driving have been traumatizing, so for there to be organizations trying to prevent this, and providing any type of help is great!
Submitted by Supermann at 01:06 PM on January 26, 2012
can anybody give me more details about drinking and driving. For my school we are doing a commerical and we need some more info to help and the another good thing is that we are sending the letter to Washington D.C. for the senate to read it. So please give us some info back or a website to go to. Thank You Supermann
Submitted by injurylawyerinc at 05:14 PM on January 3, 2012
I've heard about the MADD several times in the news and articles I've read and what I can say is that they're doing a great job. We at Mesriani Law Group is sending our warm appreciation to the team.
Submitted by Precious at 05:26 PM on December 16, 2011
I'm happy to say that this is the second holiday season that my husband and I will be celebrating clean and sober. I've learned through getting DUI'S that I'm not the only one that gets hurt. It hurt my husband, my children, my extended family and the community. Drinking has also taken its toll on my health, and I just don't feel the need for it any more. I want to educate our teens about the consequences of drinking and driving and how it can destroy their lives as well as their friends and family.
Submitted by adara at 03:31 AM on December 9, 2011
Alcohol has been proven to be deadly for human beings. Alcoholics have no control over their lives once a non returning point is reached. They get their bodies so intoxicated with alcohol that they become dependent or addictive on it. Alcohol drinking can take your life away. Driving is a privilege and a necessity, alcohol is not. You have such a great life ahead of you. You have so much potential to succeed in life. You are just at the starting point of your full potential. The teenage years are one of the most beautiful years in a human life that wasting them getting drunk is a total mistake. Now that you are young, strong, and ready to conquer the world, make wise decisions for your future. Show your intelligence by saying no to alcohol!As long as alcohol and teenagers exist, this controversial issue will go on. The solution to this problem is not whether we should change the law or not. The problem with our youth is the same one we had when we were young. Precious youth, when we humans, think are at the full potential of plenitude. Priceless experience given by our age, when we humans wish we did different at our youth.
Submitted by Eva at 04:56 PM on December 8, 2011
That is great news. But we need laws to monitor drugged driving and drug levels. We need laws in all states for blood draws for all involved in all fatal accidents. We all know drugged drivers kill but do not present as drunk many times. My daughter and her best friend died Nov. 11, 2010 by one of those drivers and every one but the driver that caused the accident was tested including my daughter who was killed. Why would the person that caused this tragedy not be tested but the victims were? He even admitted to being on medications for treatment of drug addiction! He was charged with criminally negligent homicide and no billed. So he is now on the road and just a matter of time before he kills someone elses children! Where are the victims rights?
Submitted by DOB at 04:30 PM on December 8, 2011
My family died as a result of a drunk driver there were five killed when I was sixteen I had to identify them three children and two adults. There car caught on fire and they all died instantly, I survived it changed my life and took everything I had loved in a single irresponsible act. The responsibility I was forced to be subjected to has been unprecedented. Thank you for working to keep others from experiencing similar events in there lives. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help in making an impact toward prevention. Sincerely Dennis O`Brien smokiejoe1@live.com

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