Mothers Against Drunk Drivingwas officially established in Baton Rouge in 1982 to stop drunk driving.
MADD divides Louisiana intochapters based upon the location of cities in the area. The Baton Rougelocation serves as the headquarters for the state.
Although its main purpose is tostop drunk driving, it also aims to support victims and prevent underagedrinking. They use activism and several other programs to help stop drunkdriving on the part of everyone, especially teenagers. MADD also provides aprogram which educates high school students on the dangers of driving under theinfluence of alcohol.
MADD officials speak tothousands of students every year on the importance of maintaining sobrietywhile operating vehicles. The organization also has volunteers that attendcourt cases involving individuals arrested for driving under the influence ofalcohol to ensure that the state law is enforced in a logical manner. The courtmonitoring is also used to make sure DWI offenders are penalized so they won’tconsider drinking and driving again.
The laws are enforced based on the drivers blood alcoholcontent, the drivers history and if anyone was harmed. The volunteers are usedto make sure a first time offender won’t get the same punishment as a secondtime DWI offender and vice versa.
In addition to its programs,Mothers Against Drunk Driving has a victim impact panel targeted at showing DWIoffenders the real tragedy of drinking and driving. The victim impact panelsare given acoss the state. The panel features speakers that have lost familymembers, especially children, or friends to drunk drivers. MADD employeesbelieve that the victim impact panel effects offenders in such a way that theywon’t drink and drive again.
“The victim impact panel helpsDWI offenders make a better decision next time they think about driving drunk,”said Janet Dewey-Kollen, MADD Louisiana executive director.
MADD and the federal governmenthave used vehicle impoundment and license suspensions to help keep over 5,000DWI offenders across Louisiana off the road.
MADD has received assistancefrom law enforcement to reduce alcohol fatal crashes by 75 percent and raisedDWI arrest by 40 percent through mandatory incarceration and fines for firsttime and repeat offenders.
“If one is safe, then its worthit.” said Valerie Cox, MADD victim advocate.
Thomas A Wintz III was killed atthe age of 19 by a drunk driver. His mother Cindy Savoy, is now currently onstaff with MADD as VIP coordinator. Savoy has turned her tragedy into atestimony, as she often travels across Louisiana to speak at the victim impactpanels. Savoy said that MADD was there for her in her time of need.
“They were there for me withsupport,” said Cindy Savoy, Thomas A. Wintz III mother and MADD VIPcoordinator.
