Recently, a number of fatal accidents related to drugged and drunk driving has increased to a great extent, which should be regarded as a call for community to unite. In order to prevent the appearance of new victims, active initiatives towards stopping this issue should be taken. Exactly with an aim of reducing the number of drunk driving casualties, a special social organization - Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) – was founded. Although the campaigns against drunk driving were not supported before, this non-profit organization emphasizes the seriousness of irresponsible drunk driving and strives to overcome and prevent such incidents as well as support the victims of car accidents.

The main aim of the organization is to struggle with drunk driving and its consequences. The organization was established by a person who knew from the personal experience how drunk driving can bring harm to society as all her three children suffered from this menace. MADD was founded by Candice Lightner from Irving, Texas. Familial unhappiness of Candice Lightner and impunity of drunk driving were the starting points, which resulted in launching a campaign for justice and peace.

The foundation of MADD proved to be a good way to struggle with drunk driving. In May 1980, Candice Lightner founded MADD, just being the mother who was against drunk driving. Bringing up this urgent issue to society, Candice Lightner tried to make the guilty receive their punishment, and cases with drunk driving were declining. It should be noted that prior to the activity of this woman, this topic was not so much discussed in the society and did not stand out among the ordinary criminal cases. Irresponsibility has been explained by the state of alcohol intoxication. Drawing people’s attention to the fact that more and more innocent victims of such drivers were dying or getting injured every day, Candice Lightner showed her active position in the media and constantly appealed to the US Congress and different business organizations. This message to society was full of personal sorrow but it had great social importance to the development of American society and further work of MADD.

As the history of the organization shows, MADD had a great stable development and had been widely promoting its campaigns during the last 35 years. All of this time, MADD was supported by those who shared the principles and views of the organization. The team of partial members is different – from volunteers to the relatives of victims. Their support, sympathy, effectiveness of action, and strength helped to implement the organization’s mission statement into state laws, which made MADD one of the most attractive and reliable charity organizations. The organization advocates for a strict policy aimed at raising the minimum age for alcohol consumption, increasing the penalties for crimes committed in a drunken state, denying of bail (obligation of judicial sentence), and using a tester to identify intoxicated suspects. It also calls for support of victims and, what is important, also of loved ones and family members of victims. The organization also provides educational prevention programs. The vision of the organization is manifested in its functions.

MADD strives to meet its main goals. MADD took several specific steps to overcoming the problem in 2002, among which are: reforming court programs in punishment of guilty; enlivening the endeavor of society to avoid such irresponsible acts like drugged and drunk driving; changing the legislation and enacting the laws aimed at increasing the security during driving; strengthening the sanctions used towards drunken drivers; developing funds intended for ensuring traffic security; and limiting underage drinking and drunk driving, etc. These points refer to a strategic plan of MADD, and they remained the basis for its further activities.

According to the experienced opinion of MADD followers, drunk driving, being one of the main reasons of traffic accidents, should be eliminated by enforcement of preventive measures. Among the means of achieving such plans, it is offered to organize the work of numerous road patrols to detect drunk drivers. Thus, the roads will be safe for all participants in traffic, including drivers and pedestrians. MADD finances a number of educational programs and conducts appropriate training courses to prepare the staff with particular skills. Thus, the organization accepted the fact that for the preparation of a full-fledged expert, it is necessary to study the impact of all narcotic substances available in the country. The assistance of the police and administration responsible for the traffic safety allowed creating the program that determines the state of a driver who is guilty of an accident. Moreover, MADD initiated an alternative program, which aims to assist in determining the legal driving behavior.

MADD works for wellness of the society. During its relatively brief history, the organization maintains tight relations with many large brand companies, which share their values, support mutual marketing programs, develop corporate assistance in the prevention of car accidents due to drugged or/and drunk driving, eliminate underage drinking, and support victims of crimes. The partnership with such companies helps to achieve general aims. In light of the above mentioned, it is legitimate that MADD does not consider the requests of partnership from the organizations connected to alcohol production. Nowadays, MADD has created the partnerships with over 25 companies, which are presenting, contributing, and supporting the organization accordingly by following all policies and demands of the organization. An opportunity to collaborate with such a widely known social organization as MADD provides the publicity to a company as well as widens financing; in its turn, such partnerships spread MADD’s conceptual ideas.

MADD was an initiator of the development of specific software to struggle with drunk driving. Supported by MADD, the research results have shown that the availability and accessibility of taxi service prevent the accidents caused by drunken drivers. This was justified by answers of the majority of respondents who give priority to taxi service instead driving while being drunk. At the same time, according to statistics of the organization, 300 thousands drunken drivers could potentially bring someone down every day. The majority of the respondents are concerned with the seriousness of this problem, but these results suggest that people are willing to lower the risk of danger both for themselves and for others. Such researches allow MADD raising awareness and responsibility of people and taking appropriate preventive, protective, and restrictive measures. It is worth noting that the organization positions itself as open to all proposals opposed to drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs.

The management of MADD has developed specific campaigns to deal with the problem. One of such MADD initiatives is a campaign which stimulates the activity of the society for the prevention of accidents and deaths caused by drunken drivers. Among the activities promoted by the organization, there are support for individuals who help identify drunk drivers; requirements for the availability and use of alcolocks and breathalyzers; and development of technological devices that prevent car moving if a driver has exceeded the permissible limit of alcohol amount. The result of these actions is the introduction of the special legal requirements in 25 states, which were put forward by the organization, the usage of alcolocks, and practical implementation of the technological elements used to determine the alcohol.

Another object of the attention of the organization is a growing problem of driving under the influence of drugs. One of MADD’s slogans is the phrase that alcohol and drugs pose the same danger when a person gets at the wheel. Consumption of both legal and illegal drugs leads to weakening of the organism and inability to drive a car. The solution of this problem is quite new conceptual component of the general activity, which is already well developed. Identification of drugged drivers and prevention of their appearance on the roads continue to be one of the main tasks of MADD today.

MADD has a developed organizational structure. The structure of the organization includes a team of lawyers, who contribute to the organizational support of the victims of crashes. MADD assists victims or their relatives in receiving financial compensation and other benefits, which include funeral expenses, treatment, compensation of wage, consulting, and other appropriate procedures in such cases. The sources of financial assistance may be the payments of offenders or other relief funds. This humanitarian approach to solving such problems contributed to the fact that those whom the organization helped eventually become its members. It should be noted that the Congress created specialized funding for victims of crime and established the appropriate assistance programs.

MADD focuses on the problem associated with the intake of alcohol by underage people, who cause accidents more often. Its information policy is built on the need for special education of youth and parents informing as well as clarification and precaution regarding the use of alcohol and drugs. Implementation of workshops and programs for parents, cooperation with youth organizations aimed at raising awareness among young people and spreading information about the existing problem can prevent underage youth form drunk driving accidents.

The organization is engaged in research of the problem in all states of America. In this case, the statistics are compiled and open to any interested person. MADD conducts research in the context of its activities. Studying the problem and designing laws that can solve it, the organization makes a significant contribution to the development of society and the system of legislation. A subsidiary of MADD is based in Canada, and it assesses the possibility of promoting its conceptual ideas to other countries.

As any public organization, MADD has received some criticism. Nevertheless, not everything related to the organizations with the brand names can be positively perceived. Criticism of MADD is based on the suspicion that bureaucratic companies abuse power. There are also speculations as to the expenditure of the money available and a relatively weak position in relation to the increase of excise duties on spirits. It is noted that this aspect exists, but it is not supported by the organization. Public organization that examines financial and social activities of all charitable institutions commended the work of MADD to mark C-, which is not high enough and indicates some of the problems.

Considering that many car accidents occur all over the country every day, the organization does everything possible to prevent their horrible consequences such as injuries and deaths. MADD plays a great role in saving many lives by enlightening people as to the dangers of driving while being drunk. For example, in 2014, the organization held the event in the local high school in terms of the Power Talk Program. There, a brother of a victim told about an accident that occurred some months before. After the speech, he received many encouragements from senior students. People taking part in the event showed sympathy and understanding, which invigorated the speaker. All of them realized how cruel and insufferable it could be to lose someone. This meeting followed the two main goals: to let the relatives adapt to their loss and get the sympathy from unknown people; and to teach the underage youth to be responsible to avoid such sorrowful occasions.

Another evidence of MADD active involvement in the issue is their establishment of a special call service usage. It provides 24/7 advocate help for a victim drunk and drugged driving and other kind of support. Numerous volunteers of MADD work in this call service and provide operative and open support.

The initiative of the organization to outfit all the cars with interlocks, which would prevent drunk people from driving, has been also further developed. In April 2015, in the court of Indiana, a reporter publically demonstrated the necessity to strength the law to handle the accident cases promptly. He admitted that the changes of the law proposed by MADD should be made as soon as possible. Thus, the media has also taken part in this social activity. The organization has already obtained the law enforcement power about interlock devices in many states of the Northern America.

MADD is being active in formation of its strategic plan. Research and educational activities and successful cooperation with public authorities and entrepreneurs have allowed the organization to develop a strategic plan covering the long-term goals until 2019. It contains quite a bold strategy aimed at putting an end to drunk and drugged driving, especially of minors, and support the victims of car accidents. Focusing on the future prospects of its own growth and improving the quality and quantity of internal resources, MADD prefers to make adjustments to its own strategy and gives it a national scale. The organization is planning to provide protection to more than 260 thousands of victims, to ensure the legitimacy and implementation of the laws on alcolocks in many states, to develop technology used to identify the presence of alcohol and drugs in the body of drivers. As pointed out by the organization, these measures will reduce the number of accidents, including fatal ones, and reduce the number of juveniles at the wheel. In addition, MADD focuses on expanding the capacity of the internal structure and creating an efficient infrastructure.

Thus, MADD as a public non-profit organization directs its efforts to preventing people from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It aims to eliminate drunk and drugged driving accidents. The organization also actively supports victims of such accidents. An active social position and a number of important actions taken ensure the effectiveness of the organization as well as its high social value for society. It should be also noted that the issues raised by MADD are relevant to countries all over the world.

About the author

Cordelia Mitchell dreams about all around the world trip. 
She is a student at the University of California and a writer at exclusive papers service. It's a popular and reliable writing service which offers a wide range of papers. We help students to make perfect their essays, report, course work or research paper.