Passage of Final FY 2013 Federal Spending Bill by Congress Boosts MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving (03/21/2013)
Washington DC – Today legislation passed by Congress to fund the federal government for the remainder of FY 2013 represents a major milestone in MADD’s efforts to eliminate drunk driving. This legislation, expected to be signed into law by President Obama, fully funds MADD’s three-point program for eliminating drunk driving deaths and fatalities known as the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®. MADD is proud to have worked together with its leading traffic safety partners in encouraging Congress to fully fund the National Priority Safety Programs, known as Section 405.
MADD Asks People to Make a Pledge for Safety this St. Patrick’s Day (03/13/2013)
DALLAS – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is calling on Americans to make a pledge for safety this St. Patrick’s Day: pledge to be the non-drinking designated driver for your friends and family, or pledge to not drive after drinking. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 38 people in the U.S. were killed in drunk driving crashes on St. Patrick’s Day (and the early morning hours of the next day) in 2011, which represents 34 percent of all highway fatalities for that time period.
MADD Applauds FY 2013 Senate Spending Bill (03/12/2013)
Washington, D.C. -- Today Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) applauded federal appropriations legislation introduced by the U.S. Senate which would provide funding for the High Priority Safety Grants Program known as Section 405. This program was authorized as part of the bipartisan federal highway reauthorization legislation which passed the House and Senate last summer. A technical change was needed but not included in last year’s Continuing Resolution which has funded the federal government until March 27.
Traffic Safety Community Calls on Congress to Fully Fund Highway Safety Grant Programs (03/04/2013)
Washington, D.C.- Six major highway safety organizations called on Congress to fully fund the Priority Highway Safety Grant Program, known as Section 405, when Congress considers funding for the remainder of FY 2013. Section 405 provides performance-based incentive funding for states to address key areas of highway safety that include impaired driving, distracted driving, occupant protection, motorcycle safety, traffic records and improving graduated driver licensing laws. The Section 405 program, authorized under the recently enacted surface transportation legislation known as MAP-21, did not increase federal spending for highway safety. It merely took existing budget authority under other incentive grant programs and re-packaged it into a single consolidated grant program.
MADD and State Farm Announce Massachusetts Teen as Grand Prize Winner of National Video Contest for Underage Drinking Prevention (02/27/2013)
Sturbridge, Mass. – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), along with Presenting Sponsor State Farm, is announcing today that Jason Girouard is the grand prize winner of the second annual Power of You(th)® Video Contest, which asked teens around the country to create a short video to encourage their peers to avoid drinking alcohol before age 21. Girouard, age 17, lives in Brimfield, Mass. and is currently a senior at Tantasqua Regional High School, where today’s announcement took place. His winning one-minute video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddBbElAAv5E&feature=youtu.be) depicts two friends discussing weekend plans, one suggesting a party with alcohol and the other saying “I don’t need that,” and suggesting they play video games instead.
MADD URGES SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE TO ADVANCE EMMA’S LAW (02/26/2013)
Columbia, S.C. – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) urges Senators to advance Emma’s Law, S 137, requiring all repeat and first-time offenders with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .12 or higher to use an ignition interlock on their vehicle for at least six months. The law is named after six year-old Emma Longstreet who was killed by a drunk driver on January 1, 2012.
MADD Provides Tips for Safe Super Bowl Celebrations (01/31/2013)
NEW ORLEANS – As football fans across the country gear up for Super Bowl XLVII, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is urging party-goers to have a plan for how they’ll get home with a sober designated driver… before the festivities get underway. “MADD’s game-day partnership with the NFL encourages fans ‘to play the most important position in the NFL: the designated driver,’” said MADD National President Jan Withers.
MADD Statement on U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s Departure (01/29/2013)
MADD is extremely grateful for Secretary LaHood’s leadership and his commitment to issues of highway safety during his time in office.
MADD Calls on New Jersey Lawmakers to Advance Lifesaving Legislation (12/17/2012)
Trenton, NJ – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is calling on New Jersey lawmakers to advance key legislation to stop drunk driving. Senate Bill 1750, authored by Senator Scutari and pending in Senate Judiciary Committee, requires the use of ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.
MADD Commends the NTSB for New Drunk Driving Recommendations (12/11/2012)
Washington, D.C. – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) today praised the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for approving recommendations calling for all convicted drunk drivers to receive an ignition interlock device on their vehicles, as well as the development of new in-vehicle technologies, which could one day prevent a drunk driver from operating a vehicle.
MADD Celebrates National Drunk Driving Fatalities Falling to Lowest Level on Record (12/10/2012)
DALLAS – In response to new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showing 9,878 drunk driving fatalities in 2011, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is celebrating an historic milestone in the nation’s fight against drunk driving: the first time drunk driving fatalities have fallen below 10,000.
MADD Statement in Response to NTSB Impaired Driving Recommendations (11/23/2012)
While Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) respects the National Transportation Safety Board's commitment to highway safety, we are extremely disappointed that today's update of the Board's impaired driving recommendations fails to take proven steps to prevent drunk driving, which causes almost a third of all highway deaths.
MADD’s “Tie One On For Safety” Holiday Campaign Cautions Drivers as More Highway Deaths Caused by Drunk Driving (11/13/2012)
DALLAS – As we kick off the holidays with Thanksgiving, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is reminding adults to plan ahead for a safe way home if they’re planning to drink alcohol during the season’s festivities. Data show that the time period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day includes some of the most dangerous days for drunk driving deaths, and the numbers are getting worse in recent years — as annual drunk driving deaths have decreased, there has been an increase in the proportion of drunk driving deaths around the holidays. In addition, there’s a troubling trend of drunk driving fatalities in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Thursday, following what’s becoming known as “Blackout Wednesday,” a time when people who are home for the holiday are choosing to celebrate with excessive amounts of alcohol.
MADD Calls on Massachusetts to Require Ignition Interlocks for All Convicted Drunk Drivers, in Wake of Study Showing Broken Judicial System (11/02/2012)
BOSTON – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is calling on Massachusetts lawmakers to require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, in response to a recently-released Supreme Judicial Court study report showing that the state’s judicial system is putting lives at risk on its roadways.
MADD and State Farm Empower Teens to Prevent Underage Drinking During Red Ribbon Week and Year-Round (10/22/2012)
DALLAS – As part of Red Ribbon Week (October 21-27, 2012), Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) and National Presenting Sponsor State Farm® are introducing the newest tool to prevent underage drinking, a booklet called The 411 on Teen Drinking.
MADD Urges New York to Close Loopholes in Leandra’s Law (10/17/2012)
A report issued on Saturday in The Buffalo News called attention to what Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has been saying since last May: drunk drivers in New York continue to skirt ignition interlocks by exploiting loopholes in the current law.
MADD Calls on States to Pass Lifesaving Ignition Interlock Laws and Reverse Trend of Increasing Fatalities (10/04/2012)
Washington, D.C. – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is responding to recent news that highway fatalities have increased an estimated 9 percent in the first half of 2012, with a call to action. “It’s time for the nation to double-down and fully implement the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving,” said MADD National President Jan Withers. “MADD has a plan to eliminate drunk driving once and for all and states must do their part by passing all-offender ignition interlock laws.”
MADD Recognizes Outstanding Volunteers, Staff, Media and Partners at National Conference (09/28/2012)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, as part of the 2012 MADD National Conference, Mothers Against Drunk Driving recognized its top volunteers and staff, along with partners in the community and media who have helped further MADD’s mission to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. During tonight’s President’s Awards Dinner, MADD National President Jan Withers presented awards to those who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in their communities and across the country. Earlier in the day, MADD held a Media and Partnership Recognition Luncheon, during which media outlets and partner organizations were acknowledged for their efforts to raise awareness, prevent injuries and save lives.
MADD Urges Congress to Fully Fund Federal Highway Safety Programs and Guarantee Equal Protection for DUI Victims (09/27/2012)
Today, as part of the 2012 Mothers Against Drunk Driving National Conference, more than 300 drunk driving crash victims and survivors, MADD volunteers and supporters from across the country are gathered at the U.S. Capitol for legislative meetings to urge Congressional action on two important measures
Leading Highway Safety Groups Call on Congress to Fund Highway Safety Grants (09/11/2012)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) today called on the House and Senate to support the nation's priority highway safety grant program when it considers legislation to continue funding the federal government known as a Continuing Resolution (CR). Failure to do so, the organizations said, will result in increased highway deaths and injuries.
