Survey Helps Reinforce MADD Efforts to Save Lives

A 2010 survey published by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration may validate the role of Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD) mission to help curb intoxicated driving and to prevent more young people from drinking. While deaths from drinking and driving have been reduced more than 40 percent since MADD began in 1980, most people who participated in the survey still believe drunk drivers are a serious threat to families and are looking for stricter preventative measures.

Laura Dean-Mooney, National President for MADD, summarized the survey results in stating that as long as most American still consider intoxicated drivers a danger to families, the organization has a great deal of work left to do.

Participants in the survey also consider ignition interlocking systems, which perform a breathalyzer test in the car of a potential drunk driver, an important tool for their safety. Ignition interlocking devices and increased checkpoints for sobriety are major components of MADD’s efforts to stop drunk driving. The group is pushing for a requirement that anyone convicted of a drunk driving charge would have to engage in an in-car breathalyzer test before starting the engine.

Alarming results from the survey emerged toward teens and drunk driving. When adolescents decide to drink and then drive, they most often do so after a bout of heavy drinking. Furthermore, the earlier a teen tries alcohol, the greater their chances of becoming drunk behind the wheel. Dean-Mooney points out that parents must take a more active role in educating their teens sooner about the deadly results of drinking and driving.

Founded by a parent whose daughter died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, the organization remains the country’s biggest nonprofit agency working toward preventing drunk driving and drinking among teens. MADD’s newest campaign focuses on the parental role in preventing the behavior, called Power of Parents, It’s Your Influence®. The campaign uses research-driven techniques to help parents bring a clearer message to their kids.

The group recognizes that most fatal accidents caused by drunk drivers are connected to repeat offenders with very high blood alcohol concentration levels – typically 0.15, or higher. The group has also focused on people who drink socially in an effort to eliminate all driving under the influence of alcohol.
Still, founding member Candy Lightner, maintains that her original intent was to end drunk driving, especially repeat offenders, and not to focus on drinking itself. The group has fallen under criticism for its campaigns against all drinking, its fundraising and its use of statistical information.

Recent statistics on the MADD web site say that alcohol has a greater chance of killing teens than the combined total of illegal substances, and that teens that go to schools with higher levels of drinking are more likely to have poor sleep, interrupted studies or suffer from abuse – including verbal, physical violence or even sexual trauma. MADD also warns that students in high school who drink or use other drugs have a five times higher chance than other students of quitting high school, or assuming the attitude that high school doesn’t matter.
Despite criticism, MADD officials continue campaigns and initiatives to help end drunk driving and underage drinking – focused heavily on educating parents about their role in influencing teen decisions.