MADD Supports Chairman Mica and Legislation to Reauthorize the Nation’s Highway Safety Programs
By
MADD
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February 1, 2012
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Filed in:
Drunk Driving
Recently, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica and members of the Committee unveiled the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, which includes an ignition interlock incentive grant provision that will encourage states to adopt all-offender ignition interlock laws.
Ignition Interlock devices are a key component of the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®. After passing laws requiring ignition interlock devices for all offenders in Oregon and Arizona, those states saw drunk driving deaths decrease by 52 and 51 percent, respectively. Read more about ignition interlock devices.
Not only do they save lives, ignition interlocks also save taxpayers money. A study of New Mexico’s interlock law found the cost of an interlock was $2.25 a day for the user, but for every dollar invested in an interlock for a first-time offender, the public saves three dollars. This should be no surprise given the price tag attached to drunk driving. In November of last year, MADD released a Report to the Nation showing that drunk driving costs this country $132 billion.
In addition, the act includes important provisions which will help streamline highway safety, providing states more flexibility while holding them accountable for highway safety improvements. It also continues critical paid-ad funding for the annual law enforcement crackdowns on drunk driving and seatbelt use.
The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act will significantly strengthen highway safety in America and advance MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, and MADD commends Chairman Mica and Ranking Member Rahall for their work to keep us safer on American roadways.
One item MADD hopes will be added to the legislation is the ROADS SAFE Act, which would provide critical research money for advanced alcohol detection technology, known as the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS). This is a cooperative research project between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and leading automakers through the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety to encourage and support the development of new technology that would stop drivers from operating a vehicle if drunk. Contact your legislator in support of the ROADS SAFE Act now.
Read the full press release here.
Adam Zimmer and Lindsey Arnold-Zimmer
By
MADD
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February 1, 2012
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Filed in:
Drunk Driving
Adam and Lindsey had just starting their lives together. They were recently married and were thrilled to be expecting their first child, a boy.
The young couple was working to make a difference in their community. Adam was an elementary special education teacher and Lindsey was active in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. They both had big dreams and a passion for life.
Young, thriving lives cut short because of someone’s decision to drink and drive.
They were headed to a Blues hockey game in St Louis on the afternoon of February 21, 2009, when a drunk driver traveling at an estimated 151 mph struck them from behind, causing their car to spin into oncoming traffic. Adam, Lindsey and their unborn baby all died at the scene.
Not only was the driver’s BAC 0.246, over three times the legal limit, he had already been arrested five times in several states for DUI. Five times.
An average drunk driver drives 87 times before they are arrested. Who knows how many times this man drove drunk and wasn’t caught.
MADD believes that every state should protect its communities by requiring all convicted drunk drivers to use an ignition interlock device. According to the CDC, “installation of ignition interlocks reduces re-arrest rates by a median of 67%.”
An interlock device for this repeat offender may have saved the lives of Adam, Lindsey and their baby boy.
Currently fifteen states require ignition interlocks for all persons convicted of DUI –Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. If you are a resident of one of the other 35 states, contact your legislators and tell them you support saving lives and eliminating repeat drunk driving offenses by requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders.
Be a Champion Host this Super Bowl Sunday
By
MADD
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February 1, 2012
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Filed in:
Drunk Driving
There are often a lot of records set on Super Bowl Sunday. For instance, it’s the second-largest day in the U.S. for food consumption (after Thanksgiving), the most-watched American television broadcast of the year and the most watched sporting event in the world. But it is also one of the deadliest times to be on the road, second only to New Year’s Day, for drunk driving fatalities.
MADD wants everyone to enjoy the big game this year, but more importantly, we want everyone to get home from the celebration safely. If you are hosting a Super Bowl party this year, you should know that part of showing guests a great time is making sure they get home safely. Use these tips to help throw a party that sails into the end zone:
Plan activities. Planned activities like party games, door prize drawings or amateur fortune-telling engage people, make for less active consumption of alcohol and ensure that your friends remember the great event long after the last touchdown was thrown.- Avoid mixers. Mixers won’t help dilute alcohol. Carbonated mixers like club soda or tonic water cause alcohol to be absorbed into a person’s system more quickly. Fruit juice and other sweet mixers mask the taste of alcohol and may cause people to drink more.
- Designate sober drivers. As guests RSVP, confirm that at least one person in each group is prepared to be the non-drinking designated driver.
- Provide plenty of food. Food helps prevent guests from drinking on an empty stomach, which causes guests to get intoxicated faster.
- Avoid too many salty snacks. They tend to make people thirsty and drink more.
- Offer non-alcoholic beverages. Give beverage options that don’t involve alcohol to designated drivers and others who prefer not to drink alcohol.
- Respect 21. Never serve alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age and never ask children to serve alcohol at parties.
- Be ready to step in. Despite your efforts, if some of your guests have had too much to drink, drive them home, arrange for a ride with another guest who is sober, call a taxi or invite them to stay over.
No matter how you celebrate or who you cheer for, don’t ruin the day with a DUI or drunk driving crash. If you plan to drink alcohol, remember to designate a sober driver to get everyone home safe after the game.
