MADD, but really quite sane.

“In 2008, an estimated 11,773 people died in drunk driving crashes involving a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater). These deaths constitute 31.6 percent of the 37,261 total traffic fatalities in 2008. (Source:NHTSA, 2009)”

Over eleven thousand people died in 2008 because of drunk driving. This is absolutely appalling. I know that people die; there are many natural causes and accidents that cause death every year. And yes, it does need to be accepted everyone dies eventually. Does this mean that drunk driving should be a contributor? No. Is drunk driving a natural cause or accident? No. This is something that can be completely avoided. Innocent people die every year because of the stupid ignorant choice some people make. You may think you are not “that drunk” but you should not drive under any circumstances.

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) was incorporated in 1980 and their mission was “To aid the victims of crimes performed by individuals driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to aid the families of such victims and to increase public awareness of the problem of drinking and drugged driving.” They later updated their mission to something a little simpler “The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.” They wanted to incorporate preventing underage drinking in their mission in order to stop the problem before it starts.

One of the best things about MADD is their pure honesty. When I was in high school, every year we would have a presentation put on by MADD. This was very different than any other organizations presentations put on in the school. MADD does not sugar coat anything. They tell it like it is, they put everything out on the table, and it is extremely effective. Some of the videos we watched were of people who lost someone they loved in a drunk driving accident. There is one story that I will always remember, and has had a huge impact on my life. I personally know people who have driven drunk and this presentation put on by MADD gave them reason to stop. When you put it all in perspective, no matter how small of a distance you have to drive it is not worth risking a life, whether it is your own or a complete strangers.

Work Cited

"Mission Statement." MADD. 2009. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Web. 20 Nov 2009.