In , the group was noticed by Frank R. Lautenberg, a U. Lautenberg sought a solution for reducing alcohol consumption among younger people in his home state of New Jersey. At the time, it was easy to travel to neighboring states to purchase alcohol for less, making drunk driving more common.
MADD pushed for legislation that would raise the legal alcohol limit to 21 everywhere. By , this act created a uniform age limit for alcohol consumption across the country. In recent years, the organization has turned to other technologies to reduce the rate of drunk driving.
Among these, MADD has pushed strongly for an ignition interlock device to be installed in every vehicle. When installed in a vehicle, the engine cannot be started until the operator provides a breath sample into the device. If the sample is greater than the allowed limit, the engine will not start. While the vehicle is in operation, the operator will be prompted to provide another sample. If it is not clean, the car will start an alarm that can only be shut down by stopping the car.
A major milestone happened on July 17, … the 21 minimum drinking age is signed into Federal law. All states pass 21 into law by Later the National Office moved to its current location in Irving, and this highway sign once hung at the exit off of SH MADD was a member of the Commission.
In MADD exploded nationwide as volunteers picked up picket signs and marched in front of state capitols to get new drunk driving laws passed. MADD holds its first candlelight vigil in California, which catches fire among chapters nationwide to honor victims. Culturally vigils have been and continue to be an important way to visually show the impact of drunk driving and provide victims an opportunity to gather and connect.
Candace Lightner worked tirelessly to change drunk driving laws in her home state and took that momentum to the national stage where MADD holds its first national press conference October 2, in Washington, DC. Left to right: Candace Lightner, Rep. Cindi Lamb, from Maryland, joined Candace Lightner and other grieving mothers to rally against the crime of drunk driving.
A year earlier, Cindi and her 5-month-old daughter, Laura, were hit head-on by a repeat drunk driver. The feisty, blue-eyed girl who loved to dance in her electric wheelchair, died at age 6 from complications due to her extensive injuries. To this day, MADD holds photos of victims and survivors to put a face on the problem and share stories behind the statistics.
She and a friend were walking to a church carnival and at the same time, a three-time repeat offender, out of jail just two days from a 4th DUI arrest, was barreling down the road.
He hit Cari from behind, throwing her out of her shoes feet, then fled the scene but was later arrested and charged with her death. In that moment, Cari became the first face of drunk driving victims.
She also represents the many pedestrian victims killed or injured due to drunk driving. This photo was taken just hours before she was killed. Video: Colleen Sheehey-Church. Lightner quickly formed Mothers Against Drunk Drivers later Mothers Against Drunk Driving to raise awareness on this problem and to fight for tough laws against offenders.
She was appointed to a national commission on this issue by President Ronald Reagan in MADD is funded by individual contributions, corporate gifts, foundations, government grants, in-kind donations, licenses, promotions, and restricted funds. Our success in securing public dollars to support this vital work comes from the progress the country has seen in reducing death and injury.
Debra Oberlin, a former president of a defunct chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, was arrested recently by the Gainesville, Fla.
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