Public Support The success of the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® would not be possible without the wave of public support behind it — starting with victims and volunteers who have helped pass lifesaving interlock laws in 30 states and Washington, D.C., support our law enforcement heroes, and create new and effective programs to stop drunk driving across the nation. Drunk driving is no longer acceptable, thanks to grassroot efforts that have reinforced that everyone has a responsibility to help eliminate drunk driving. In 1986, MADD helped promote the “designated driver” as a personal choice and critical alternative to driving drunk. Designating a driver is now part of the social conscience. Today, there is no excuse to drive drunk and risk lives on the roadways. With non-drinking designated drivers, taxis, public transportation and ride sharing apps, there’s no excuse to drive drunk. None of this would be possible without the commitment and dedication of victims and volunteers who changed public opinion about mixing alcohol and driving. In addition to the safe deployment of fully autonomous technology, it is critical to continue the development of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS). Since 2008, MADD has proudly championed this cooperative agreement between the world’s leading automakers and the federal government. MADD’s advocacy has helped secure funding for development of touch-based and breath-based passive systems that will render vehicles inoperable if the driver is at or above the illegal limit of .08 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC). In 2016, the Commonwealth of Virginia committed $20 million to the DADSS program. The commitment followed the 2015 global unveiling of the DADSS concept vehicle at a collaborative event sponsored by MADD, the auto industry, and the Department of Transportation held at DOT headquarters in Washington. Thanks to Virginia, there is now more than $70 million in total funding for the project. DADSS will be vital to eliminating drunk driving. DADSS technology must be expedited in order to eliminate drunk driving and stop preventable deaths. MADD hopes the next steps involve a pilot program to move the DADSS technology out of the lab and onto the streets where it can stop drunk drivers.
Plan ahead and designate a non-drinking driver. THE SAFEST CHOICE
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