MADD Calls on New York Assembly to Advance DWI Reform
By MADD | June 12, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

MADD and the father behind Leandra’s Law, Lenny Rosado, are calling on the New York State Assembly to advance S 6636/A 9544, sponsored by Senator Charles Fuschillo and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg. Passage of this important legislation would improve Leandra’s Law by increasing ignition interlock compliance rates.

Leandra’s Law was signed in 2009, making driving drunk with a child passenger a felony, and requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. However, due to loopholes in the state’s current drunk driving law, only one third of DWI offenders in New York have had an interlock installed since August 2010.

Throughout the U.S., 16 states (including New York) require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ignition interlocks save lives and reduce drunk driving repeat offenses by 67 percent.

New York residents:  Contact your lawmakers today in support of strengthening Leandra’s Law.

For more information on MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®, which includes requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, visit www.madd.org/campaign.

*UPDATED 6/13/2012*

Yesterday, the Assembly Transportation Committee failed to advance S 6636/A 9544, despite strong support from the full Assembly.

MADD implores New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to advance pending legislation to strengthen Leandra’s Law and save lives. The Speaker’s action is especially critical for victims like Lenny Rosado and for the citizens of New York who deserve to be protected from repeat drunk driving offenders. 

If you live in New York, please contact your lawmakers now.  It's quick and easy, and you can help save lives in New York.

I’m a Mom for DADSS
By Jan Withers | June 8, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting the lab where they are researching the end of drunk driving.  And once again, I became a mom for DADSS.

Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, DADSS for short, is our hope for the future to ELIMINATE drunk driving.  Two prototypes of advanced technology are being studied. One is touched-based and one is breath-based.

While more research needs to be done, both technologies are working toward the goal of accurately and precisely detecting how much alcohol is in the driver’s system. In all 50 states, a legally drunk driver—someone with a .08 BAC or higher—would not be able to operate the vehicle if this technology comes to fruition.

This is exciting, but more importantly, it is happening.  DADSS has surpassed expectations and has entered into phase two of research.  We will see this in our lifetime and I got to see it with my own eyes.

Unfortunately, current funding for this research program will end in 2013, but I have worked with our public policy team in Washington to include funding for DADSS in the new Senate transportation bill.  We now look to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to also support the funding as the bill moves forward.  If the House does not act, the future of DADSS will be unclear. To me, that means thousands of people will die at the hands of drunk drivers before Congress sees fit to protect us by funding this research again.   

Congressman Mica is Chairman of this committee.  Please click here and ask your member of congress to tell Chairman Mica to agree with the Senate and fund DADSS research in the next highway bill. 

DADSS has the potential to eliminate drunk driving in America.  We must do everything we can to ensure this project receives funding for phase three.

Why We're Here: Michael Haynes
By MADD | June 4, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , Victim Services , Victim Stories

Michael Haynes was a loving husband, an amazing father, son, brother, uncle and a friend to so many.  He loved spending time with his family, playing with his children and his Xbox.  Michael cared deeply for serving and protecting others, which greatly influenced his life and career choices.

Michael joined the United States Army after the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th and served his country with pride, courage, honor and integrity in Iraq.  After he was honorably discharged, Michael joined the Montana Highway Patrol in 2006 to make the roads safe for his family, friends and fellow Montana residents—and he was great at his job. In his three years on the Highway Patrol, Michael Haynes received high marks from his supervisors, and was an aggressive enforcer of DUI laws.

On March 23, 2009, Michael was on-duty when a drunk driver traveling in the wrong lane crashed head on into his patrol car.  Michael died from his injuries four days later, leaving behind his wife, Tawny, and two young children.

Following Michael’s death, legislators and other state officials agreed that something needed to be done about the drunk driving issue in Montana and try to remedy their stance as one of the worst drunk driving states in the country.

Michael’s wife Tawny has taken over his passion to get drunk drivers off the road and has become an outspoken advocate for stricter drunk driving measures.  She has worked with legislative committees to examine the effectiveness of Montana’s laws and to see how they can be improved, and was also heavily involved in the passing of the 24/7 Sobriety Program Act for repeat offenders.  Since the drunk driver that killed Michael was reportedly served 13 drinks before he got in his car to drive home, Tawny is also an advocate for stiffer over-serving law and has worked on mandatory alcohol training for servers.

"I want to do the right thing," she said. "I want his death to mean something; I want some good to come out of this."

MADD Testifies in Favor of Requiring Interlocks for All Drunk Driving Offenders in D.C.
By MADD | May 23, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

Today, J.T. Griffin, MADD’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy, is testifying before the Environment, Public Works and Transportation Committee in Washington, D.C. in support of ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders.   Currently, ignition interlocks are discretionary for repeat offenders in the district.  MADD is urging the committee to advance the Ignition Interlock Amendment Act of 2012, and in doing so, make sure these devices are required all convicted drunk drivers for at least six months.
 
We know it is not enough to simply revoke the license of a convicted drunk driver.  Studies show that 50 to 75 percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive even while their license is suspended. This is the reason why interlocks are so critical to protecting the public.  Convicted drunk drivers who have an interlock can keep their job, keep going to school, and at the same time, keep the public safe.

The Ignition Interlock Amendment Act of 2012 can save lives and hopefully bring the number of drunk driving deaths in Washington, D.C. to zero.  Similar laws in Arizona and Oregon have helped decrease drunk driving fatalities by 51 and 52 percent, respectively.  In Louisiana, drunk driving deaths are down by 40 percent. In New Mexico, drunk driving deaths have decreased by 30 percent. 

MADD’s support of ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers is simple—it is about saving lives and stopping drunk driving. 

Learn more about the hearing or watch it live starting at 1:00 p.m. EST on May 23, 2012.   

Tips to Help Drivers Stay Safe on the Road this Memorial Day Weekend
By MADD | May 21, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , General

As families across the country get ready to kick off the summer and honor our military heroes this Memorial Day weekend, MADD urges motorists to stay safe on the road during a time of year when drunk driving deaths typically increase. Over Memorial Day weekend in 2010, 158 people were killed in drunk driving crashes nationwide.

Here are five tips for safe driving over the holiday weekend and year-round:

1. Plan a safe way home. Arrange a sober ride home, or offer to be the sober designated driver.
2. Wear a seat belt. Seat belt usage is one of the best ways to stay safe on our roadways.
3. Don’t call or text. Any form of impaired driving poses a serious threat to those on the road.
4. Slow down. Respect all posted speed limits.
5. Be aware. Pay attention to other drivers on the road and avoid those driving erratically.

Law enforcement agencies across the country will be intensifying their efforts over the holiday weekend, so MADD encourages drivers to utilize these tips, which have the power to save lives and prevent injuries.

Get more information about how to spot a drunk driver and what to do, or learn more about MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®.