MAKING A DIFFERENCE!  SAVING LIVES.

Since its founding, MADD has helped pass more than 2,300 anti-drunk driving and underage drinking laws. 

MADD was instrumental in the passage of the national 21 minimum drinking age law in 1984, as well as the 1995 "zero tolerance" provision of the National Highway Systems Law making it illegal for those under 21 to drive after consuming alcohol.  In 2000, MADD helped pass a federal drunk driving limit of .08 percent blood alcohol concentration, and is working to pass .08 BAC laws in the 31 states that do not yet have this law. 

MADD also advocates for passage of a federal constitutional amendment for victims' rights and stricter penalties for repeat and higher-risk drunk driving offenders, in addition to other key legislation in states across the country.

The information on this page will be updated on a regular basis to reflect the status of current legislation being tracked by MADD Florida. (LAST UPDATED: 5/2/2003)

SEAT BELT LEGISLATION Continued from Home Page...

MADD firmly believes that requiring states to pass primary seat belt enforcement laws or achieve a 90 percent seatbelt usage rate is critical to saving the lives needlessly lost or injuries unnecessarily sustained because motorists fail to wear their seat belts.

Seat belts are your best defense against a drunk driver. 

With the rise in alcohol-related traffic deaths the past three years in a row --- and the half a million injuries yearly --- it is absolutely crucial that we work together to protect our families and protect our roadways.

In 2001, an overwhelming 76 percent of all people killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes were not buckled-up.  By wearing your seat belt, you can cut the risk of being seriously injured in half.  Like me, many people know firsthand that a seat belt can save your life. 

A primary seat belt law does more than saves lives.  It also helps catch drunk drivers.  We know that alcohol-impaired drivers typically do not wear their seat belts, or make sure their passengers are buckled-up.  In fact, two-thirds of children killed in alcohol-related crashes are passengers in a vehicle driven by an impaired driver.  And it's been shown that seat belt use for children decreases the more impaired a driver becomes.

If someone can be stopped and ticketed for a broken tail light, surely that person should be stopped and ticketed for not wearing a seat belt.

We are counting on everyone to make personal, lifesaving decisions to drive safe, sober and buckled-up.  We are counting on Congress to take action and pass Senate Bill 1993 because seat belts save lives and prevent needless injuries.

MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.

UNDERAGE DRINKING:  MADD National President Testifies Opposite Alcohol Industry Representatives continued from Home Page

     MADD’s testimony, opposite representatives from alcohol beverage companies such as Anheuser-Busch, is focused on the scope of the public health epidemic and science-based recommendations to help prevent underage drinking.  Youth alcohol use kills 6.5 times more young people than all other illicit drugs combined. 

“While it is illegal for youth under age 21 to drink alcohol, there are 10.1 million underage drinkers in America,” says Hamilton.  “Despite the staggering impact alcohol has on youth crime, injury and death, our communities and educational system do not receive the dedicated funding desperately needed to help protect young people. “

Illicit drugs and tobacco youth prevention have received considerable attention and funding from the government, yet underage drinking has been ignored.  In fiscal year 2000, the nation spent approximately $1.8 billion on preventing illicit drug use - - 25 times the amount, $71.1 million, spent on preventing underage alcohol use.

Hamilton adds, “We must see urgent attention and action by Congress and our entire society to make a real dent in this widespread problem.  The longer we look the other way, the more young lives are at stake.”

Today’s hearing, along with a previous Senate hearing, are among the first steps in the development of a national comprehensive plan to prevent underage drinking.   The hearings follow the NAS report and recommendations on the issue released in September.

Among the recommendations supported by MADD and the NAS:

• An adult-focused national media campaign on underage drinking prevention to help counter social influences such as alcohol advertising.
• Additional federal resources for prevention activities (including school-based programs) and programs to ensure compliance with underage drinking laws.  MADD says increases in alcohol excise taxes are one possibility for providing needed additional funding.  
• Designation of a federal agency as lead for underage drinking prevention issues.  Currently, the limited responsibility is disseminated among several agencies.

     “The alcohol industry has used its influence to keep the underage drinking issue off of Congress’ ‘to-do list,’ but their stall tactics are weakening,” says Hamilton.  “We will not rest until the health and safety of our youth is a top priority for our nation and its leaders.”

MADD is the premiere organization working to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.  MADD is a 501(c) 3 charity with 600 chapters and 2 million members nationwide.  Nearly 270,000 lives have been saved since MADD's founding in 1980.

View an  Executive Summay of the NAS Report (PDF), or the full report.  

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