Madd (mothers Against Drunk Driving)

MADD or Mothers Against Drunk Driving was founded in the United States in 1980 as a non-profit organization. Its founder, Candy Lightner, founded MADD after the death of her daughter by a drunk driver. Membership grew substantially throughout the 1980s.

The goal of MADD is to curtail drunk driving and to stop underage drinking. Other similar organizations exist in Canada and throughout the world. Sometimes controversial, MADD has been charged with endangering civil liberties through some of their measures to stop drunk driving. Supporters have, however, encouraged their efforts claiming the lives which are saved through their efforts justify their actions.

MADD has helped increase DUI penalties through aggressive drunk driving legislation and has helped create laws across states to provide uniform and standard drunk driving penalties. MADD also was instrumental in making it illegal in every state to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, which had been higher in some states.

MADD also has created victim advocacy and alcohol education programs. According to MADD there has been a decreased in DUI related deaths since the 1980s through their efforts which include:

• Massive publicity campaigns to stop drunk driving
• Education for drivers and their victims
• Education in schools to reduce the incidence of underage driving
• Advocating for victim impact statements to be used at DUI trials