MADD Launches New Drunken-Driving Fight
Americans worry about the wartime hazards men and women of their armed forces face but drunken driving continues to take a far heavier casualty toll on the nation’s roadways than today’s war zones.
Every year in the United States nearly 13,000 people are killed by drunken drivers with an illegal alcohol level of .08 blood alcohol concentration or higher. The number in 2006 was 13,470 dead. Compounding this tragedy is the realization that drunken driving is a preventable crime.
It already has been demonstrated that efforts to reduce drunken driving on American roadways can have significant success.
In 1980, a group called Mothers Against Drunk Driving was founded at a time when drunken driving was considered socially acceptable behavior, despite the fact an estimated 30,000 people were being killed annually in alcohol-related traffic crashes on American highways.
MADD appealed to Americans and got support primarily in the form of enhancement and enforcement of tough drunken driving laws along with some shift in the incorrect attitude that drinking and driving was acceptable practice.
As a result, alcohol-related traffic fatalities declined more than 40 percent, representing a saving of some 10,000 lives annually. Such progress is seen as evidence that total elimination of this traffic fatality statistic is possible.
That is why MADD is launching a major new offensive in the war against drunken driving with a “Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.” Goal of the campaign is simple, focused and possible: a nation without drunken driving.
“The best way to honor the victims of drunk driving is to prevent it from happening to anyone else,” said MADD information announcing the campaign. “The real possibility of eliminating a primary public health threat that has plagued the United States for 100 years is a powerful, even audacious idea. But the proven tools are at hand, and that is exactly what we intend to do.”
To build upon a proven-effective law enforcement model, the campaign calls for intensive, high visibility law enforcement. It also focuses on existing technology such as mandatory alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunken drivers and exploration of emerging, cutting-edge technology designed to separate drunken drivers from their weapons — a vehicle.
Creating an early understanding among young people that drinking and driving is unacceptable is another emphasis of the drive. Underage drinking is America’s No. 1 youth problem. More young people die from alcohol than from all illicit drugs combined.
Together with its 400-plus affiliates, MADD is uniting drunken driving victims, families, community leaders and policymakers to help make the campaign a success. The organization also plans to work with law enforcement agencies, judicial organizations, auto manufacturers, insurers, distilled spirits companies, technology companies, safety advocates, health care professionals and emergency technicians to push for comprehensive state-level policies and reforms to eliminate drunk driving.
Texans can take no pride in the fact that their state is first in the nation in deaths related to alcohol motor vehicle crashes. Nor can residents of the East Texas Region be proud that their area is ranked second in the state in this category.
In 2006, 1,354 people were killed in Texas in accidents involving a driver at or above .08 blood alcohol concentration. At the current rate, three of 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.
As we have observed, public attitude toward drinking and driving is a key element in trying to eliminate this crime. Until there is a prevailing public attitude making drinking and driving unacceptable it will continue to be a major problem.
MADD hopes to bring that attitude change with this new campaign. People should get on board and support strong law enforcement and aggressive prosecution of violators.
Everyone should feel a personal responsibility to help eliminate this tragic and disgraceful drunken driving highway carnage in East Texas, Texas and the nation.
