Spotlight

MADD on a mission to end driver impairment

In partnership with community, government, and corporate partners, MADD has worked since 1980 to keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. The organization focuses on education and advocacy, but beyond that, is actively involved in state and federal legislation that can help eliminate this preventable tragedy.
Posted 2023-01-27T18:58:57+00:00 - Updated 2023-02-06T16:53:11+00:00
Photo courtesy of Mothers Against Drunk Driving

This article was written for our sponsor, Whitley Law Firm

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every 45 minutes in the US, a life is lost in a drunk-driving crash. That’s 11,654 preventable deaths each year, out of which were 429 DWI-related fatalities in North Carolina. Since 1980, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has been working diligently to create a future where there are no more victims of impaired driving through education, prevention, support for victims and their families affected by drunk driving, and advocacy for stronger laws. In addition to its work in communities across North America to lower this number, MADD also works with government and corporate partners to advance its mission.

According to Jennifer Lichtneger, State Affiliate Executive Director for MADD, their organization’s primary goal has been to end impaired driving once and for all. “Since our founding, we have decreased impaired driving by over 50%, but it still accounts for nearly a third of all traffic-related fatalities in North Carolina," said Lichtneger. They are working to raise awareness among drivers about the dangers of drunk driving and how they can look out for their own safety. "We do a lot of raising public awareness through the community of events and different public awareness campaigns that you may hear of," said Lichtneger. By working with community and corporate partners to spread awareness and educate people about operating a vehicle under the influence, MADD is lowering the number of drunk drivers in the state and raising awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving and its devastating consequences.

Here is just a snapshot of the vital work that MADD NC conducted throughout 2022:

  • Presented its Power of Youth Underage Prevention Program to over 10,000 teens
  • Provided support services to 96 victims and families
  • Educated 1,121 first-time offenders at Victim Impact Panels
  • Supported over 1500 officers at sobriety checkpoints
  • Monitored and recorded data for over 2900 DWI court cases
  • Raised over $140,000 for community awareness campaigns and local programs
  • Recognized over 200 law enforcement officers and prosecutors for their efforts in fighting impaired driving at the annual recognition banquet

The organization realizes that approaches beyond advocacy will greatly aid MADD in its mission. "Not just through tougher laws, which have happened over the years, but also through the advancement of new technologies that can detect driver impairment in vehicles. [This is] something that we're really excited about. We think it will be the game changer moving forward." added Lichtneger.

MADD was a fierce proponent of the Drunk Driving Prevention Technology Provision included in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This provision requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to evaluate technologies that could detect driver impairment, giving them three years to set new standards for this technology on new vehicles. Cars with these features could begin rolling off production lines sometime around 2026, although some of these potential technologies exist today. These new technologies would require passive detection and monitoring, differing from ignition interlock devices that require the driver to blow into a breathalyzer.

When asked how drivers can avoid making the potentially fatal decision to drive under the influence, Lichteneger said that drivers can "take a ride share to the location so that you don't ever have to even put yourself in the position of having to decide to drive impaired.” Even though the organization has experienced success in reducing the overall amount of impaired driving, there is a lot of work to be done. “We are still fighting that battle, [so it's going to] be really important for us to get that message out with our partners." MADD works with local representatives like governors and district attorneys to promote highway safety while working with local organizations to reach the organization's goal.

As a law firm that deals firsthand with civil cases on behalf of drunk-driving victims, Whitley Law Firm firmly supports MADD and its mission in North Carolina. As Ben Whitley explains, “North Carolina allows for what are called punishment damages, you can think of those as punitive damages. If somebody is a victim of a car crash that's caused by a drunk or impaired driver, North Carolina law allows the victim to recover more money to discourage, dissuade, and deter this type of behavior.” Despite the potential monetary ramifications that a perpetrator may incur in civil court, they are also subject to the punishment awarded by the criminal justice system. Beyond ensuring that the clients who retain Whitley Law Firm for these cases receive a fair resolution, the firm is committed to working with MADD to enhance public outreach and awareness of the organization’s mission. “I see us being partners in education, partners in the community, and certainly partners in any efforts that we can assist with strengthening DUI laws in the country,” Whitley concluded.

This article was written for our sponsor, Whitley Law Firm

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