Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Description

Who is MADD? MADD has more than 600 affiliates throughout the United States. Although we were founded in 1980 by a California woman after a repeat offender killed her teenage daughter; today men, women and youth lead the charge against the violent crime of drunk driving. MADD has grown into one of the largest and most effective organizations working to fight drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD has been instrumental in passing thousands of anti-drunk driving and underage drinking laws. On the federal level, we helped pass the national 21 minimum drinking age law and the "zero-tolerance" provision making it illegal for those under 21 to drive after consuming alcohol. In addition, MADD helped pass a federal drunk driving limit of .08 percent blood alcohol concentration. During our 25 years of service, these measures have saved over 300,000 lives. Locally, MADD provides services to the residents of Hillsborough (and Pinellas) counties. As one of the largest crime victim assistance organization in the world, MADD encourages bereaved families and injured victims to call MADD's 24-hour victim helpline, 1-877-MADDHELP, or call (813) 985-0378 -our local victim assistance phone number. These calls reach trained victim advocates who can provide emotional support, free literature on victim issues, and guidance through the criminal justice system. Last year, MADD in Hillsborough County provided victim services to 368 victims and surviving family members. MADD in Hillsborough County also assisted law enforcement with 5 sobriety checkpoints, provided information at 8 community events, spoke at 17 school events and held one law enforcement recognition event. In addition, MADD in Hillsborough County: § Monitors court cases and report outcomes to local citizens and news media to help ensure that drunk driving offenders are punished to the fullest extent of the law § Sponsors Victim Impact Panels - a program where victims and survivors tell offenders how drunk driving has irreversibly changed their lives § Provides regular forums for bereaved and injured victims and those who advocate for them to share ideas, insights and incentives for emotional, physical and justice-oriented healing as well as addressing victim-specific issues. MADD also serves the community through programs that increase public awareness of the dangers associated with adult impaired driving. Public awareness activities such as: § Tie One On For Safety holiday ribbon campaign § The bilingual Pasa Las Llaves/Pass the Keys "designate a sober driver" prevention campaign. § MADD speaker's bureau provides trained volunteers to speak to civic groups, educators and youth throughout the area as well. MADD youth programs provide prevention education on the dangers of underage drinking and are impacting social change by working to change the perception that underage drinking is a "rite of passage." MADD produces multi-media assembly programs for elementary, middle- and high-school students that use the latest technology to weave current movie, music video and television segments into a message that includes stories of actual students making good and bad decisions about alcohol.