Photographs
By | June 4, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , National President , Power of Parents , Underage Drinking

This is the season for photographs. We commemorate proms, graduations, summer vacations and gathering of family and friends by snapping lots of pictures. We send them to one another in texts and post them on Facebook. It is a season of celebration and relaxation.

However, for many families, this also becomes the season to have those pictures abruptly come to an end. There will be no more goofy faces of their teen locking arms with friends and hamming it up for the camera. Eventually, the clothes being worn in the photos become dated; reminding us how much time has gone by since we saw our loved one.

I am a mother who grieves because all I have left are pictures from 20 years ago of my 15-year-old daughter who was in the car of a 17-year-old drinking driver when she was killed. How I would love to have newer pictures commemorating current joyful moments. How I long for that…

This is the season that has been labeled the “100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers.” More teens die in traffic crashes during each of the summer months than during non-summer months.

I encourage parents to remain vigilant in keeping your children safe during these dangerous months, as well as year round. Set driving boundaries for your teens by limiting passengers, restricting night driving, insisting on seat belts, and eliminating trips without purpose. I urge you to continue your conversations about not drinking alcohol until they are 21 and never getting in the car with someone who has been drinking. Most important, let them know you are there for them.

I wish you many lovely summer days, with many more photos commemorating wonderful events and beautiful memories.

Jan Withers
MADD National President

Scars, Seen and Unseen – 1988 Kentucky Bus Crash 25th Anniversary
By | May 20, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , National President

Every face was a canvas of deep emotion. Tears of remembrance and heartache painted their cheeks. Their rocky ascent out of the dark hole had been daunting. Nevertheless, it was clear they stood victorious at the top…..Together!  So too, tears of reunion and victory sparkled like diamonds in so many eyes.

I was humbled to be even a small part of something so powerful. On the 25th anniversary date of the Kentucky bus crash, survivors, family members and friends of those who died and those who survived gathered to honor those caught in the inflamed bus.  The first ceremony of remembrance was in that very school, but many of the survivors still were hospitalized and unable to attend. This time they came with their families, their friends, their spouses and their children, some the very age their parents were on that fateful trip to Kings Island.  I observed the faces in the audience as victims and survivors spoke so eloquently. The bond was tangible and the love profound.

Many wore the scars seared into their skin from the flames 25 years ago. To me, they were exquisitely beautiful and regal. I can only imagine their struggle as they grew up, and yet today they do not hide, but wear them with dignity. They joined with family members of those who died to cherish the memories and celebrate their lives.

Harold Dennis, one of the survivors, has partnered with a writer, director, and other producers to launch the film IMPACT: AFTER THE CRASH. They recreated the horror of the crash and then magnificently unfolded the inspiration of human resilience and fortitude that followed.  Many family members and survivors wove the stories of their experiences and reactions as they moved forward in their new lives.  A private showing of the movie was received with praise and gratitude from survivors and family members of those who died.  The community was invited to see the film the following day and it again brought accolades.

I cannot stop thinking about the events of the past few days. I cannot stop thinking about the surviving families. Each person touched my spirit. My heart continues to be filled with tears – tears of admiration.  They inspire me.  They have refueled my commitment to do everything possible to end this violence once and for all. They have refueled my determination to see the day when there will be no more tears caused by drunk driving.

MADD Continues Focus on Proven Drunk Driving Prevention Efforts to Save Lives and Prevent Injuries
By | May 14, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

Today, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced several new recommendations related to drunk driving, one of which is to pursue a national .05 BAC per se limit.

MADD has worked for more than 20 years to create a single national BAC limit of .08. I remember standing in the Rose Garden when President Clinton signed this bipartisan legislation into law. The battle was hard fought and a victory we can be proud of. Reaching this consensus spawned the establishment of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving in 2006.

We studied research and best practices to create a program that would save the most lives now, and in the future. With your help, the Campaign is recognized as the premier grassroots movement across the nation.

We have made great strides on all three Campaign initiatives:

• High visibility law enforcement—we support efforts of high visibility law enforcement events, such as Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. These events are savings lives today based on actual data and not just projections
• Mandatory ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers—we have achieved amazing results in advocating for impactful ignition interlock laws. Together we have helped pass ignition interlock laws in every state, and MADD’s efforts to pass ignition interlock laws has resulted in over 100 million Americans who are now better protected in states requiring these devices for all convicted drunk drivers.
• Development of advanced technology—the development of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) is moving forward. Once complete, DADSS will stop a drunk driver with a BAC of .08 or higher from driving the car of tomorrow and will be no more intrusive than airbags.

In addition, in March, the U.S. Congress made good on its commitment to our Campaign by providing over $50 million for Campaign related activities, which includes doubling the budget for the DADSS program. Furthermore, every major traffic safety organization including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the NTSB, AAA, the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, and the NFL now supports our Campaign. In short, it’s working.

This support is based on taking these lifesaving actions while maintaining a single national BAC standard. While lowering the standard could reduce fatalities, that benefit would be many years in the future. More importantly, pursuing it would distract from current initiatives that are saving even more lives today!

MADD continues to recommend that the safest course of action is never to drink and drive. In addition, we are committed to serving all victims of substance impaired driving regardless of impairment levels. MADD’s 1-877-MADD-Help Line is available 24 hours a day. MADD serves an impaired driving victim every eight minutes and this will continue until our Campaign is complete and there are no more DUI victims.

We have a thoughtful plan that we believe can eliminate drunk driving entirely. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety believes that ignition interlock laws for all offenders could save 1,000 lives per year and that DADSS could save 7,000 lives per year. This is our goal and a key part of our mission. Let’s stay focused, save the most lives we can now, and eliminate drunk driving as soon as possible.

As always, thanks for all you do to support MADD’s mission. Your dedicated efforts inspire me every day.

Warmly,

Jan Withers
MADD National President

Click here to read MADD's statement regarding NTSB recommendations
Click here to read the press release

Passion and Persistence
By | April 26, 2013 | Filed in: Victim Services

I am very proud of my fellow MADD victim/survivors and victim advocates because we possess both the passion and persistence needed to make change.  Together we have done so very successfully, but we need to do more. I am calling on you once again to show your passion and persistence.

Yesterday, Representative Franks introduced a U.S. Constitutional Amendment for Victims’ Rights, H.J. Res 40.  Today, I am asking you to contact your Congresspersons to urge these elected officials to cosponsor and support this proposed amendment, H.J. Res 40.  

Over the past 20 years, I have held hands with and listened to thousands of victims.  During this time I have seen too many incidents where victims were denied their basic rights to be present at the hearing of their case, or to be able to tell the judge the effects this crime has had on their lives at sentencing.  Even though we have statutes in every state to protect the victims’ rights, there is a U.S. Constitutional Amendment supporting criminals’ rights, which frequently trumps the rights of victims.   And while many states have victims’ rights amendments, again, the Federal Constitution trumps those. 

H.J. Res 40 will give rights to victims. Please use your passion and persistence to help our fellow victims and survivors have their basic rights upheld in the criminal justice system. Take action now.

Parents are the Number One Influence on Teens’ Decisions about Alcohol
By | April 15, 2013 | Filed in: National President , Power of Parents , Underage Drinking

I frequently say that the only thing reliably predictable is that life is unpredictable!  However, always constant in my days, my thoughts, my heart and my spirit is this:  I miss my precious daughter, Alisa, so very much.  There is a perpetual longing that sits just under the surface.  Even though I live each day in a manner to honor her, it never quite eliminates the sorrow.

Alisa was 15 when she was killed by a 17-year-old driver who had been drinking. I know she was mindful of my expectations and the consequences of drinking before 21 and of riding in a car with someone who had been drinking.  She would express her dismay because I would not allow her, or her siblings, to attend parties or events where parents weren’t present and alcohol likely would be. But she knew it was because I loved her and wanted her to always be safe. 

As I look back on those days, I think about what more I could have done, or what I could have done differently to save her life—we parents do that.  I wish I had talked about alcohol more often with her…how I wish!  Thanks to Dr. Turrisi’s research and the information in MADD’s Power of Parents Handbook, we now know that parents having frequent and ongoing discussions about the dangers of underage drinking significantly reduce teens’ use of alcohol.  It is also important to have those conversations in a respectful manner.  Make sure our children know the reason that we have these expectations is because we love them and want them safe. 

Alisa knew how much I loved her.  She knew how much I respected her.  I did have conversations with her about our family values and expectations concerning drinking before 21.  But … perhaps if I talked about it more often – just perhaps – she would have made a different decision.  Perhaps she would have heard my voice in the back of her head and I could continue to hug and kiss her today.

April 21st is PowerTalk 21 day—the day set aside for us to talk with our children about the dangers of drinking before the age of 21.  Since the studies show that 74% of teens say their parents are the number one influence on their decisions about alcohol, I encourage every parent to discuss it frequently with your children.  Even when they roll their eyes… even when they whine, “I know, I know, Mom.”  I sure wish I had the opportunity to see Alisa roll her eyes at me now.  How I would grin, because that would tell me she heard me! 

Warmly,
Jan