Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a US nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce the fatalities associated with drunk driving. The organization also focuses on supporting those affected by drunk driving and preventing underage drinking. MADD is based in Irving, Texas. The organization was founded by Candace Lightner, the mother of a 13-year-old girl who was killed by a drunk driver. Following its significant successes, MADD has been considered one of America’s most liked charities ( Griffin, 2019) . The organization has been credited with fostering a significant reduction in the number of alcohol related fatalities in the United States. By 1985, the organization’s membership had soared to over 650,000 in 47 US states. Since its inception, the MADD has not only dramatically reduced the number of alcohol related traffic deaths by changing how America looks at driving and drinking.
Problem Targeted
The major problem targeted by MADD is alcohol related traffic deaths. In 1980, when the organization was founded, more than 21,000 Americans were killed in traffic accidents involving at least one driver under the influence of alcohol ( Griffin, 2019) . Today, several decades later, the number has decreased by over 50 percent. The organization noticed that drunk driving was the most frequently committed violent crime in the United States. MADD viewed drunk driving injuries and deaths as not accidents but rather deliberate actions by people who choose to drink and drive ( Quelch & Boudreau, 2016 ). As a result, the organization resolved to change an entire society’s attitude towards driving under the influence. It introduced such terms as ‘designated driver’ into the lexicon. The organization realized that it would not be easy convincing people to stop drinking altogether. Instead, it encouraged people to always have a designated driver who would drive them home safely. The designated driver, a non-drinker, would ensure that safety is promoted on American highways.
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Organizational Goals
The organization has three major goals that it focuses on achieving. MADD seeks to end drunk driving, prevent underage driving, and improve the lives of victims of alcohol related traffic accidents by providing support. The organization realized that many American lives were being lost to drunk driving accidents.
Based on its commitment to ending drunk driving in the United States, the organization held its first candlelight vigil in 1981 to honor victims of alcohol related traffic accidents. The initiative created awareness about the impact of drunk driving on America. Many people came out in support of the organization, most of them being families of victims of drunk driving. MADD also joined the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving created by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. The organization’s effort bore fruits, as the Alcohol Traffic Safety Law was passed. The law gave the US states the financial incentive to pass laws lowering the BAC levels for impaired driving from 0.15 to 0.10 percent.
In 1984, MADD successfully influenced the passing of the federal National Minimum Legal Drinking Act ( Griffin, 2019) . The act led to the raising of the legal drinking age to 21 years. The act prohibited people under the age of 21 years from purchasing or publicly consuming alcohol. It is worth realizing that the act led to a decline in the number of motor vehicle crashes by a median of 16 percent. By 1988, all the 50 states and the District of Columbia had agreed to uphold the National Minimum Legal Drinking Age. The act successfully decreased drinking among people aged 18 to 20 years by approximately 20 percent. As a result, the number of drunk driving related accidents reduced significantly. The organization’s influence on public policy played a significant role in reducing underage drinking in the United States, one of its important goals. Additionally, the organization expanded its mission statement to include prevention of underage drinking in 1986 in order to curb the vice. The organization hosted the first ever National Youth Summit the same year. This commitment was also affirmed in 2015 when the organization expanded the Power of Parents program to include parents of middle school children. The objective of the move was to help prevent underage drinking before it starts among children.
MADD also focused on improving the lives of victims of drunk driving by providing support. In 1989, MADD established victim impact panels in an effort to help victims of drunk driving crashes and their families heal. Through the same program, MADD provided people who did drink and drive with the opportunity to recognize the grave consequences of their actions in an effort to prevent drunk driving accidents in the United States. In 2015 again, the organization rolled out the MADD Victim Services which began to use the term survivor, instituting a 24-hour helpline that helped survivors survive. The organization has all along committed to helping the victims of drunk driving accidents to have meaningful lives through relevant support programs.
Definition of the Problem
MADD recognized that many American lives were lost to drunk driving accidents. Over 21,000 lives had been lost in 1980, the year it was founded. Drunk driving was a major social issue that needed to be addressed through enactment of stricter laws against drunk drivers. The problem of drunk driving required effective solutions that would help put a stop to loss of lives. The members of the organization played a significant role in lobbying for tougher laws against driving under influence, as well as stiffer penalties for offenders. Additionally, the organization recognized the importance of creating awareness about the grave consequences of drunk driving in the United States. Many innocent lives were lost due to the negligence of people driving under the influence of alcohol. The highlight of the problem of drunk driving occurred in 1980, when the 13-year-old Cari Lightner was killed by a hit and run motorist who had previous drunk driving convictions.
Changing People’s Minds
Since its founding in 1980, MADD has not only reduced the annual alcohol related deaths, but they have also changed the way Americans look at drinking and driving. Before the organization was founded, drinking and driving was not seen as a major issue in most social circles. In fact, there were even jokes about drunk driving. Some people even boasted about how well they could drive under the influence of alcohol. At the time, there were no tougher laws against driving under the influence of alcohol. Penalties for drinking under the influence offenses were generally considered mild, usually attracting just a fine.
MADD’s efforts have changed how America perceives driving under influence ( Schmidt, 201 4). Drinking and driving has become a taboo in the United States. The organization has influenced public policy by creating awareness about the negative impact of drunk driving ( Quelch & Boudreau, 2016) . The organization succeeded in putting a face to the many victims of drunk driving until the people who had died ceased to be only statistics. The victims began to be seen as someone’s mother, daughter, son, father, husband, or wife. By setting up its first office in Cari Lightner’s room, MADD made the girl’s death as personal to the rest of Americans as it was to them. The organization has successfully seen stricter laws passed against drunk driving and underage drinking in the United States. Their education campaigns and lobbying continues to shape America’s perception of drunk driving. The organization believes that work will not be done until not a single person dies or is injured in a drunk related accident in the United States.
MADD’s Allies
MADD has successfully allied with individuals and organizations in its efforts to end drunk driving, underage drinking, and supporting victims of drunk driving. The organization has partnered with parents and youths to reduce underage drinking. MADD launched the Power of Parents in 2011; a program that invites parents of high school students to have open and honest discussions with their children. The program focused on reducing underage drinking in the United States. In 2012, the organization also launched the Power of Youth, a program that sought to encourage teenagers and high school students to create awareness about the dangers of drinking.
MADD has also allied with the National Football League and Uber in addressing drunk driving. In 2010, the organization partnered with the NFL to provide a game-day program for fans to volunteer to play the most important role of being the designated driver. The program created awareness about the need to practice safe driving. MADD has also partnered with Uber ( Clewlow & Mishra, 2017 ). The two organizations announced a campaign to eliminate any excuse for drinking and driving in 2018. The two organizations recognize the fact that drunk driving is still the number one killer on America’s roads. The two partners agree that there is no excuse for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Organization
MADD is currently the largest victim-advocate and anti-drunk-driving organization in the United States and the world. The organization has state offices in 29 states. The coordination of the organization is carried out by a national headquarters staff of over 60 individuals located in Irving, Texas. The headquarters staff directs training, national fundraising and media campaigns, seasonal and ongoing education and awareness programs, as well as federal and state legislative activities.
Success, Failure, and Impact
MADD has dramatically reduced the number of alcohol related traffic deaths each year in the years it has operated ( Schmidt, 2014 ). The organization has successfully lobbied for tougher laws against drunk driving. The organization also influenced the raising of the National Minimum Legal Drinking Age to 21 years. The law helped reduce underage drinking. However, the organization has had its share of failures. For instance, MADD began to outgrow its mission during the late 1990s. The organization began to target reasonable adults who were responding to its campaigns. It did so by shifting its rhetoric from ‘Don’t Drive Drunk’ to ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’. As a result, the new mission failed to effectively address the problem of drunk driving because it sought to stop all drinking before driving, regardless of whether it is done responsibly or not. The organization has also endorsed higher taxes for alcoholic beverages, something that has marred its public image. However, the organization has had a significant impact on Americans. It has changed the nation’s attitude towards driving. Drunk driving is currently treated as a taboo, given its dangerous consequences.
References
Mother Against Drunk Driving Website, https://www.madd.org/
Griffin, O. H. (2019). Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The Encyclopedia of Women and Crime , 1-4.
Quelch, J. A., & Boudreau, E. C. (2016). Building a culture of health. In Building a Culture of Health (pp. 1-25). Springer, Cham.
Schmidt, I. B. (2014). Perpetual trauma and its organizations: Mothers Against Drunk Driving and drunk driving revisited. Memory Studies , 7 (2), 239-253.
Clewlow, R. R., & Mishra, G. S. (2017). Disruptive transportation: The adoption, utilization, and impacts of ride-hailing in the United States.
