Why We're Here: Brian Wood
By MADD | January 9, 2013 | Filed in: Drugged Driving , Victim Stories

On September 3, 2010, Brian Wood was traveling with his wife Erin, who was 7 months pregnant with their first child, to Whidbey Island, Washington.  Brian saw a car heading towards them at about 50 mph in their lane.   Knowing that his car would be struck head on and wanting to protect his pregnant wife and unborn baby, Brian turned his car to the right so that he would take the brunt of the impact.  His action saved Erin and their child, but Brian did not survive the crash. Two passengers of the other vehicle were also killed.

Investigators at the scene found heroin, marijuana, syringes and other drug paraphernalia in the driver’s vehicle, and the driver admitted to smoking marijuana earlier that day.  She was charged with causing three deaths and injuries while driving in a reckless manner under the influence of drugs.

Brian’s father Ed Wood began his quest to promote effective laws to reduce drugged driving after hearing the offender’s defense attorney state that “it is not unlawful to drive with illegal drugs in your body.”  Ed has worked with experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Governors Highway Safety Association, MADD and countless other groups as well as individual experts and consultants to become a recognized leader in promoting effective drug per se laws.  Ed also directs www.deceptionpass3.com, a network of drugged driving victims who join him in the effort to enact effective drugged driving legislation.

In recognition of his efforts, the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy has recognized Ed as an Advocate for Action. 

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month 2012
By MADD | December 3, 2012 | Filed in: Drugged Driving , Drunk Driving

The month of December is one of the busiest on the nation’s roadways, and also one of the most dangerous, due to a high incidence of alcohol and drug-related traffic crashes.  During December 2010, 25 people were killed in drunk driving crashes per day on average.

December has been designated National Impaired Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.  In issuing his proclamation, President Obama urges all Americans to “make responsible decisions and take appropriate measures to preventimpaired driving.” Click here to read the proclamation.

MADD has these tips to help ensure everyone’s safety this holiday season:

• If your plans involve alcohol, plan ahead for a safe way home. Even one too many drinks increases the risk of a crash. Designate a sober driver, Give the Gift of a Designated Driver®, or arrange another safe way home. 
• If you’ve been drinking use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member or use public transportation.
• If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel. Your actions may save someone’s life. 
• Always buckle up, drive with caution, and don’t hesitate to call 911 to report a suspected drunk driver. Just because you made the right decision to drive sober, others on the road may not have. 

No one thinks that their holiday celebration will end in tragedy. But for those who include alcohol in their celebrations and then get behind the wheel, this is too often the case. Drunk driving deaths and injuries are 100% preventable, so do your part this holiday season by choosing to drive safe and sober and help others do the same. 

Why We’re Here: David West
By MADD | September 4, 2012 | Filed in: Drugged Driving , Victim Services , Victim Stories

David West

David West was 12 years old when his family moved from California to the small rural town of Glide, Oregon. Most kids would despise being uprooted from everything they know to settle in the country, miles away from the nearest town, but not David.  David fell in love with the county—hunting, fishing, mudding in his truck. He loved the outdoors. David grew up to become an ironworker.  It was a physically demanding job, but David loved it and was proud of his work.  He married his high school sweetheart, Nikki, and together they had two children.

On January 14, 2006, his sister’s birthday, David was killed in a drunk driving crash at age 29.

After David’s death, Beth’s sister contacted MADD and was provided with victim support materials, which Beth said she found very helpful. She was also assigned a victim advocate—Ann Pratt, whose son was killed in a drunk driving crash.  Among other things, Ann helped the West family through the taxing legal process, and Beth credits Ann for “getting their family to where they are today.” When walking into court for the first day of the trial Beth lost it, saying “I can’t do this.” But Ann was there and told her “Yes you can.”  Beth says she can’t thank Ann enough for everything she has done for her and her family.

Jacob, Dan, David and Lorri West

Since David’s death, the family has become dedicated to putting an end to senseless drunk driving deaths. Each November, they put on a community awareness event in correlation with MADD’s Tie One On For Safety holiday initiative. Local and state police departments participate in the event and bring their mobile DUI unit and impairment goggles to help the public learn more about the dangers of drunk driving.  The event continues to grow each year, and in recent years more than 300 people have attended. David’s brother Dan, a MADD volunteer, has taken lead for this and several other events each year to help raise awareness in the community, in honor of his brother.

Beth, David’s mother, volunteers as a MADD court monitor and victim advocate,  As a court monitor, Beth finds comfort in knowing that her presence can help make an difference.  She says, “Oregon has good drunk driving laws, they just need to be enforced.”  Beth became a victim advocate because she wanted to be there for other victim/survivors and their families, like her victim advocate was for her, especially during the trial.  She says, “trial can be an extremely difficult experience.  Many drunk driving victim/survivors have never been to court before and have no concept of the criminal justice system.  It’s important for victims to know their rights, and that’s what I hope to assist with as a victim advocate.”

On the first day of a trial as a victim advocate, the victim Beth accompanied to court said “I can’t do this.”  And just as her advocate had said to her years before, Beth told her, “Yes you can.”

The West family is currently going through a post-conviction appeals process, and through sharing her story, Beth hopes that she can explain to people how stressful and emotional the appeal process can be.  Her advice to others is to learn not to take the criminal justice outcome personally and to accept it as part of the system.  Learning to do this helped her to manage her own anguish and remain focused on making a long-term difference for others.

The West Family

My Experience at the NTSB Forum
By Jan Withers | May 17, 2012 | Filed in: Drugged Driving , Drunk Driving , National President

I thank the National Transportation Safety Board for holding their important forum, “Reaching Zero: Actions to Eliminate Substance-Impaired Driving.”  This highly regarded board realizes their “Most Wanted List” is outdated.   They intend to take the information presented in the forum, study the research, and then update their recommendations.   JT Griffin, MADD VP of Public Policy, presented powerful testimony on research that is the foundation for our Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.  I was honored to represent the thousands of individuals victimized by impaired driving. 

It was reaffirming to hear esteemed researchers as well as representatives from organizations such as National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Governors Highway Safety Administration, and AAA, echo MADD’s recommendations.  Specialists from around the world substantiated our course of action to eliminate drunk driving.

I drove home heartened by the comments and questions of Board members.  They are dedicated to becoming an effective part of the solution so America can reach that beautiful zero number…or….eliminate impaired driving.  Member Sumwalt summarized that “there really are a lot of dedicated people working on this and there is no one magic bullet.  Impaired driving is a crime.  We need to focus on all impaired driving, not just hard core drunk drivers.   We need a combination of our laws being certain, swift and severe, along with education, visible enforcemMy ent, and prevalent use of current technology and advanced technology that will be available down the road.  DUI checkpoints are effective and we would like to see them implemented much more.” 

Chairman Hersman asked the one question that deeply touched my heart.  “Why are deaths by impaired driving not treated the same as death by other crimes?”  Thank you, Chairman.   The fact that we hear the impaired driver didn’t “intend” to kill someone is no longer reasonable.   Drinking and then driving is still accepted as part of our society instead of being treated as the violent crime it is.  It is an intentional choice for a person to drive after they have been drinking. Part of the definition of second degree murder is that the offender knew their intended action could result in a death, even if they did not pre-plan to kill anyone.    

Today in Maryland, a common sentence for vehicular manslaughter is 18 months.  I carried intense anger toward society’s attitude because of this very issue.  The person who killed my daughter received a sentence of 28 days work-release, plus community service as part of his probation.  I eventually realized I needed to release that anger and use it to focus on making positive change.  

Member Sumwalt was inspired to conclude with: “I want this to be a springboard for the problem.  I want to really charge out of here and work together to solve this problem.”   My reply:  “Fantastic!  Welcome aboard! We have been doing it since we began our Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® 6 years ago.  We are so glad you are joining us!”  Thank you Chairman Hersman and Member Rosekind for leading the charge in NTSB.  

Looking forward to a future with no more impaired driving,  
                                                                        
Jan Withers
MADD National President    

NTSB Substance Impaired Driving Forum
By MADD | May 16, 2012 | Filed in: Drugged Driving , Drunk Driving

Yesterday, MADD National President Jan Withers presented before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in support of MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®. At the forum, MADD called on the NTSB to update its Most Wanted list (recommendations the NTSB makes to state and federal governments about traffic safety) with the following recommendations:

• Every state should adopt a law requiring ALL convicted drunk drivers to use an ignition interlock device.
• Judges should order every convicted drunk driver to use an ignition interlock device.
• Expedite research and development of advanced alcohol detection technology.
• Every state should conduct lifesaving sobriety checkpoints.
• Support continued national high-visibility enforcement campaigns.

Current NTSB drunk driving recommendations, issued in 2000, are based on addressing "hard core" DUI offenders, or those arrested with a BAC of .15 or higher, or repeat offenders. However, research has proven that those laws are much less effective than laws that target all DUI offenders.  IIHS found that focus on these higher-risk offenders could save 158 lives per year, whereas all offender interlock laws could save more than 1,000 lives per year and advanced technology could save almost 9,000 lives per year. 

We are excited to be able to work with the NTSB and other traffic safety leaders to eliminate drunk driving through the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.
View photos from yesterday’s event from NTSB.