DADSS Turning Cars Into the Cure for Drunk Driving

Hope. I love that word. I cherish the concept. I treasure the feeling. There were so many days after my daughter was killed by a drunk driver that I felt buried in the dark hole of despair, when I could see no possibility of light. It was a difficult climb to the surface, one I could never have made on my own. One person who held the light on for me until I could see it myself was my MADD victim advocate, always there to care, listen, and support.

Anger also accompanied my despair. I was furious with our society. How could we allow this violent crime to exist? It is so preventable. It is so unnecessary. I became vocal, actively participating with MADD to get "tougher" laws, believing that would become a deterrent so more folks would decide to drive sober or have a sober designated driver. Sadly, after a few years I became disheartened. The number of America's family members killed by drunk driving stayed relatively the same. My hope was waning. In fact, I was downright discouraged.

Some people continue to drive drunk because they can. Interestingly, because all the education and deterrents and punishments do not seem to stop the drunks from driving, we now have the development of advanced technology that will turn the cars into the cure.

Today my hope is renewed. We are living in the time when the vaccine to this horrible disease of drunk driving and the destruction it leaves in its path is being created and tested. Right now....as you read this....it is happening!

JT Griffin, MADD's Senior Vice-President of Public Policy, and I recently were privileged to visit the laboratory where it is being researched in Boston. Bud Zaouk (the gentleman with the dark hair you see in the photos) graciously educated and escorted us through the facility. It was inspiring.

The technology is called Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, or DADSS. It is a technology that will integrate a passive sensor into the vehicle, being able to detect the precise amount of alcohol in the driver's system. If that driver is at or above the legal limit of 0.08 BAC, the car simply will not start, or be driveable. The performance specifications are set at an extremely high level. It must perform absolutely accurately, precisely, reliably and work in a very short time (millisecond). This is now being tested for vehicle integration and consumers will have the option of purchasing a car with it already part of the package - much the way we had the option of having air bags in our vehicles years ago when they became available. It will not be mandated.

The DADSS is not to be confused with today's alcohol ignition interlock systems that convicted drunk drivers are sometimes required to place in their vehicles. They certainly are an effective tool in reducing drunk driving. In states requiring those for all convicted drunk drivers, fatalities caused by drunk driving have been reduced by over 30%. However, they are calibrated at a lower level of 0.02 BAC, because a person convicted of drunk driving is not allowed to have any alcohol while driving.

DADSS program is studying two prototypes. One is distant spectrometry, which uses infrared sensors that are triangulated on the person in the driver's seat. The other uses tissue spectrometry, which uses near infrared light that will perhaps be imbedded in the start button or the gear shift.

It was astonishing to have the mechanisms explained and demonstrated, indicating how very close we are to having this become part of our everyday reality...which means to me, to have the cars be the cure...which means that there will be a day when the car will simply not allow a person to drive it when impaired by alcohol at or above the legal limit.

The DADSS project is funded by our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. MADD is now urging Congress to support the ROADS SAFE Act, which will lengthen the time of funding this important research.

THIS WILL SAVE SO MANY LIVES. This is my hope. I hope it becomes your hope. Do call or email your Congressperson and tell them you want them to support this life-saving legislation. It very well could save the life of someone you love.

Warmly, Jan Withers

National MADD President

Father's Day...thanking dad's of all kinds

This Sunday we celebrate dads of many types--there are dads who are finished raising their kids, dads who have stepchildren, dads who no longer have their children through divorce or death, and dads who are also mothers.

My friend, Jeff, is a law enforcement officer who has full custody of his kids and he is a terrific, single dad.  Their mom is still living, but she has some problems that keep her from parenting. I admire Jeff so much because he works to protect our streets from drunk drivers and other criminals, but he manages to work in quality time with his son and daughter.

I think of the lost opportunity to ever really get to know my dad who died of a heart attack at age 43--I was only 11 years old.  I think of my daughter who never got to know her daddy Mike because a drunk driver killed him when she was an 8 month old infant.  Both of these situations are terrible, but they are not uncommon.  Many, many dads never really get to be dads for very long either because of the choices they make or the choices that others make.

This Father's Day, I celebrate all of you dads who belong to MADD because of the death of your child(ren), spouse, significant other, mother, dad or someone else you love.  Thank you for being mothers--Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  You are all helping us work to reach our vision--a nation without drunk driving.

Happy Father's Day!

Too Drunk??

In Saturday's Washington Post there was an article about the DADSS (Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety) and the potential technologies that NHTSA and the
Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) are looking into. Check it out at the link above...

Basically, two types of technologies are being explored to find out if they will work accurately, reliably and not hassle those of us who never drive drunk. These technologies might include a set of sensors in the car that would detect if you were at a .08 BAC+ in less than a SECOND! If you were, your car would not be drivable. It is also important to point out that these devices must aim to function without maintenance for at least 10 years and be inexpensive.

Rob Strassburger of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers said it best: "We want the public to understand the need (for this potentially lifesaving equipment)and how they benefit."

We've all got to spread the word and let the public know that this potential technology is a very good thing and has the potential to save over 8,000...8,000 lives! We need Congress to put about $12M/per year into this. That is cheap compared to the cost of drunk driving currently. If you get a minute, please go to www.madd.org and take action by asking your member of Congress to support the ROADS SAFE act.

I'll be your DD!

Looking for that perfect gift—with a reasonable price tag? As the holidays approach, people may be feeling stressed about having to buy gifts when they don't have extra money. So spread some holiday cheer this season by downloading MADD’s Give the Gift of a Designated Driver coupon "redeemable" by your friends and family for a night of you being the sober, designated driver.

Play your part by downloading and sharing the coupon found at www.madd.org and telling friends that, “Tonight, I’ll be your DD.” The coupon is designed to ensure that all who redeem it will have a sober driver for the night.

MADD wants you to enjoy the season’s festivities, and if those celebrations include alcohol, please give the gift of a DD or use public transportation. Let's keep the season merry and bright for everyone!

R-Rated May Equal U-Drinking

This study shows there really could be more of a problem with youth watching R-rated movies than just the usual suspects. Now, it may make middle schoolers more apt to drink underage. Another good case for being a parent first versus a friend, and protecting versus going along with the crowd.

Why Just Mothers?

We have gotten a lot of questions over the years about our name and its perceived exclusivity. Why are we just Mothers Against Drunk Driving?

The fact is, drunk driving affects fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandmothers, friends, coworkers, and the list goes on and on. While our founders were grieving mothers, MADD prides itself on reaching out to any individual affected by this tragic crime. In fact, our previous National President Glynn Birch was a father, not a mother.

Several years ago, we even looked into changing our name to address this very problem. But you know what we found out? In order to restablish the amount of awareness and public trust built up in our name, we would need to invest millions of dollars and countless years. In the end, we'd rather spend the generous donations of our supporters on the actual prevention of the crime rather than a rebranding campaign.

So instead, we try to refer to ourselves as MADD more than Mothers Against Drunk Driving. After all, we're all capable of being MADD.

Safer Roads Free From Drunk Driving

It is good that there are champions on Capitol Hill to ensure the vision of a world free from drunk driving comes to life. This from today's MADD press release:

"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is proud to support Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) with the introduction of their legislation, the Research of Alcohol Detection Systems for Stopping Alcohol-related Fatalities Everywhere (ROADS SAFE) Act. The ROADS SAFE Act would provide reasonable funding for the research and development of vehicle technologies to end drunk driving."

It was just three years ago that MADD introduced The Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving and now another major milestone is set in motion to fund the future technology that will make this possible.

Congratulations to Sens. Udall and Corker for their commitment to safer roads across America.

Priorities

There are many concerns today as seen in recent polls. We also know people are very concerned about drunk driving and support technology to stop it. We now have 12 states with ignition interlock laws for convicted drunk drivers and have new technology being explored to stop drunk driving all together. While we may not have all the answers to American economy, it is nice to know we do have the answers to eliminate drunk driving.

Guest Blog by Carl McDonald-MADD National Law Enforcement Initiative Manager

Recently a television show starring Steven Segal comes to our attention because it allegedly portrays law enforcement officers giving breaks to drunk driving offenders. The name of the show is “The Lawman” and it’s airing on the A&E Network.

I’ve looked at three episodes and I am stunned. This is a “reality” show based on Segal riding shotgun on some sort of mall-cop party patrol with the good old boys down in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana where it appears the sheriff’s deputies are behaving more like middle school hall monitors than law enforcement officers.

We support our law enforcement officers nationwide. It’s a natural partnership for us and them. However, partnerships are two-way streets and the portrayal of “law enforcement” seen on this show is some sort of relic from over 30 years ago when drunk driving was exacting the heaviest toll on our nation’s roadways. This isn’t law enforcement, this is a joke.

In three separate episodes, three different occasions arise where officers come in contact with impaired drivers – one involving a fairly serious injury collision complete with a witness from the bar the driver just vacated before overturning his car and ejecting his friend during the rollover. These guardians of the law failed to request blood tests on the driver.

I might think that was an editing error until we focus in on two more people who are deemed “too drunk to drive” by these clowns, but allowed to leave in a taxi or walk away without standardized field sobriety testing and without proper arrest decisions being attempted.

I called Colonel Fortunado of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and spoke to him about the behavior evidenced during these episodes. He spoke to me about “officer’s discretion” and the lack of state troopers available to evaluate the drivers, while assuring me that they make an arrest of a “really drunk guy” in a future episode.

I’m sure they do. No doubt they have to…because we are watching.

Drink, drive, arrest, repeat

In Minnesota, 46,748 drivers have at least 4 DWI arrests. They form a dangerous group that's hard to treat or punish. Danny Lee Bettcher was back in an Otter Tail County courtroom this month, again for driving drunk. This time, he was facing his 27th DWI conviction -- a Minnesota record.

DWI Deaths: Is It Murder?

Drunk driving kills more than 13,000 Americans a year - that's one every 39 minutes. Authorities call it an epidemic. They say that despite all the publicity, all the education campaigns, and all the advertising over the past decade, the number of drunk-driving fatalities has not gone down.

U.S. may require anti-DWI locks on vehicles

A national campaign against first-time drunken-driving offenders is gaining ground as states and the federal government weigh mandatory use of devices requiring violators to prove their sobriety before their engines start.

Top Five Myths About Drinking and Driving

Many people drink and drive and make excuses for why it’s okay. But if they drive while impaired this summer, chances are they'll get caught.

According to ICBC, here are the top five myths about drinking and driving that some drivers still believe.

Mother Currently Filming a Documentary About Her Son

Everyone experiences tragedy in their lifetime and everyone handles the grieving process in their own way.

For New York resident Elizabeth Obad, she took her grief and channeled it into helping others. She is currently filming a documentary about her son, Sergeant George Obad who was killed at the age of 26 by an impaired driver while stationed in Newburgh, New York.

The documentary “Fragile Warrior” will be shown to Marines and other military personnel before deployment and when they return home from assignment.

Is 18 old enough to drink?

The issue is a key part of a national discussion on whether the minimum drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18 years old. Organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) say absolutely not.

Online Candlelight Vigil for Drunk Driving Victims/Survivors

During the holiday season, MADD will be hosting an online candlelight vigil in honor of victims/survivors of drunk driving crashes. Light a virtual candle and submit a tribute message to a loved one or friend impacted by drunk driving. You can even have the tribute e-mailed to the person or family being honored.

New Data Shows Disturbing Number of Repeat Drunk Drivers on American Roads

New government data compiled from states illustrate an alarming trend: nationally, an estimated two million three-time or more and 400,000 five-time or more drunk driving offenders are sharing our roadways at any given time.

The newly released state progress report for MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving highlights the need for comprehensive alcohol ignition interlock laws in all states.

Learn more about the Annual State Progress Report and Repeat Offense Data by State.

Parents Arrested for DUI, Child Endangerment with 4-Year Old in Car

According to an article from KYPost.com, the father of a 4-year old boy was arrested for alleged drunk driving and his mother, the passenger, was arrested for child endangerment for allowing her husband to drive.

MADD believes that driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is criminal and irresponsible. Having a child in the car elevates this criminal act to child abuse. Read MADD’s child endangerment report, Every Child Deserves a Designated Driver.

Texas Man Sentenced to 99 Years for DWI Conviction

According to an article in the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Roger Dale Guess was sentenced to 99 years in prison for felony driving while intoxicated, which was at least his sixth conviction.

Sign the Pledge to Eliminate Drunk Driving and support MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, which aims to end drunk driving completely through increased law enforcement, ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, advanced vehicle technologies which will prevent a drunk person from operating a vehicle and public support.

Michigan Drunk Driving Suspect Hits Officer Making DUI Arrest

According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, a Flint, Michigan police officer was hit and injured by a suspected drunk driver, as the officer was arresting a person suspected of driving drunk.

MADD supports law enforcement agencies nationwide in their efforts to reduce drunk driving fatalities and injuries. Unfortunately, we know too well the dangers associated with this enforcement. Visit the Officer Victim Tribute to honor those law enforcement officers killed or injured by alcohol-impaired drivers or while enforcing drunk driving laws and/or underage drinking laws.