MADD Virginia and District of Columbia

Description

Moth ers Against Drunk Driving is a 501(c)(3) non-profit grass roots organization with more than 600 chapters nationwide and international. MADD is not a crusade against alcohol consumption. Our focus is to look for effective solutions to the drunk driving and underage drinking problems, while suporting those who have already expericed the pain of these senseless crimes. MADD's History: In 1979, five-and-a-half-month-old Laura Lamb became one of the world's youngest quadriplegics when Laura and her mother, Cindi, were hit head-on by a repeat drunk driving offender thraveling at 120mph. As a result of the carsh, Cindi and her friends waged a war against drunk driving in their home state of Mayland. Less than a year later, on the others side of the country in California, 13-year-old Cari Lightner was killed at the hands of a drunk driver. He had been out of jail on bail for only two days for another hit-and-run drunk driving crash and had three previous drunk driving arrests and two convictions. He was allowed to plea bargain to vehicular manslaughter. Although he was sentece to two years in prision, the judge allowed the offender to serve time in work camp and later a halfway house. At the time of Cari's death, the drunk driving offender was carrying a valid California driver's license. Enrage, Cari's mother, Candace Lighner, and friends gathered in Sacramento and they discussed forming a group named " MADD-Mothers Against Drunk Drivers," was found in 1980. Since then, MADD has continued to grow and and pursue the efforts intiate by its founders. In 1984, MADD change its name to Mothers Against Drunk Dri ving to reflect its mission to eliminate a crime and to focus on the act of drunk driving. MADD's National President became an elected position with specific term of office. Two-thirds of MADD's volunteers national Board of Directors is composed of representatives from CAS-Community Action Sites. Drunk Driving is NOT and ACCIDENT. Those injured and killed in drunk driving collisions are not "accidents." The crash caused by an impaired driver involved two choices: to drink AND to drive. The deaths and injuries caused each year by impaired driving can be PREVENTED...they are not " accidental."