MADD History

Celebrating pivotal moments that propelled our mission forward.

Impaired driving affects everyone.
We’re here to end it for good.

MADD began with one woman’s brave decision to turn her grief into action. Now, we are a mass movement working
tirelessly to stop impaired driving before it starts — from stronger laws to safer choices.

We’ll do whatever it takes to keep our families, friends, and fellow humans safe on our streets. Join us.

  • MADD Undergoes Rebrand

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    MADD undergoes a transformational change with a brand refresh to modernize and help us reach new audiences to end impaired driving. The new wordmark is the fourth registered logo in the organization’s history.

  • The MADD Network Launches

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    MADD welcomes organizations and individuals to join The MADD Network and help create a collective community impact by fighting impaired driving. Inaugural members Include: Amica Insurance, Diageo North America, Nationwide, the NFL, Uber, and UKG.

  • MADD National Ambassador Program Launches

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    The MADD National Ambassador program amplifies diverse voices of victims and survivors of impaired driving. They share stories and advocate in communities across the nation.

  • Stacey D. Stewart Becomes CEO

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    Stacey’s appointment to CEO arrives at a moment of renewed urgency for the organization, as new data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that impaired driving will reach its highest levels in over a decade and that alcohol-related crashes are once again the number one killer on American roads.

  • Tess Rowland

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    Tess Rowland assumes the role of MADD National President and announces Coalition 45, a new alliance by Gen Z-for Gen Z. Coalition 45 is made up of 45 youth leaders from around the country to educate, prevent, and save lives from drunk and impaired driving crashes in their communities.

  • MADD Hails Monumental Drunk Driving Prevention Provision in Infrastructure Bill Passed by U.S. House of Representatives

    The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives includes the single most important legislation in Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s 41-year history, marking the beginning of the end of drunk driving. The “Advanced Impaired Driving Technology” section of the Infrastructure bill mandates an advanced vehicle technology standard that is expected to prevent more than 9,400 drunk driving deaths annually, according to a 2020 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

  • Decide to Ride

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    MADD embarks first of its kind partnership with Anheuser-Busch and UBER to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving with the national campaign – "Don't Drink and Drive, Decide to Ride"

  • Alex Otte

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    Alex Otte is announced as the youngest MADD National President. Otte’s family came to MADD in 2010 when she was 13 years old after she was severely injured by an intoxicated boat operator.

  • The COVID-19 pandemic

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    On March 17, 2020 MADD transitioned to a remote-work model across all offices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Walk Like MADD events in 2020 became virtual. People from across the country walked in their own neighborhoods and communities in support of MADD.

  • MADD Brasil

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    Founder and CEO of MADD Brasil, Ronaldo Rissetto traveled to MADD headquarters to celebrate a new partnership with MADD Brasil.

  • Reasons to Ride Telly Award

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    MADD and Uber were honored with a Telly Award for the “Reasons to Ride” Public Service Campaign.

  • MADD’s 40th Anniversary

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    MADD celebrated 40 years of fighting to end drunk and drugged driving.

  • MADD and WAYMO

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    MADD teamed up with WAYMO, the leaders in autonomous technology, in honor of MADD’s annual Tie One on for Safety Campaign.

  • MADD Cannabis Report

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    MADD unveils the MADD Cannabis Report: America’s Perception on Consumption and Road Risk

  • Power Of Parents

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    MADD launches an update to the Power of Parents Middle School and High School Handbook that includes focused content around talking with your kids about marijuana in addition to alcohol. The Power of Parents program is a researched-based program designed for parents of middle school and high school parents, to help them have going intention and potentially lifesaving conversations about alcohol with their kids.

  • Victims Served

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  • First National Saturation Saturday Event

    MADD saturated a Saturday in August 2019 and partnered with law enforcement departments for a nationwide DUI enforcement effort.

  • 1 Million Youth Reached

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    MADD reaches over 1 million youth through the Power of You(th) program through the distribution of its Power of You(th) teen booklet distribution and teen presentations across the nation.

  • Nina Walker

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    President-Elect Nina Walker, whose daughter was killed by drunk driving, worked as a tireless advocate, a voice for the voiceless and a passionate volunteer. Her ability to transform tragedy into healing inspired many.

  • National Court Monitoring Report

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    MADD released its first National Court Monitoring Report. This report helps to educate and support the importance of proper sentencing for impaired driving cases across the country to prevent future offenses and crashes.

  • PowerofYouth.com

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    As a compliment to the Power of You(th) program, MADD launches powerofyouth.com in conjunction with October activation. The site, build based on feedback from teens, includes real-life stories and times on how to navigate underage drinking peer pressure. On this interactive site, teens are also able to download Power of You(th) materials, pledge to say no to alcohol under 21, to never ride with a drinking driver and encourage their friends to do the same.

  • Private Victim Facebook Group

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    Launched in 2015 the Private Victim Facebook Group grew to over 2500 members.  This private group offers an avenue for many new victims to reach out to MADD for the first time and allows victims and survivors a supportive and safe online forum to connect, share and seek support.

  • Celebrating 30 Years

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    This year, we proudly celebrate the 30th anniversary of the designated driver and Tie One On For Safety®, our longest running and most visible public awareness project.

  • New TV PSA’s

    MADD Victim Services provides new TV PSAs to stations nationwide.

  • MADD helped 330,000 lives

    330,000 lives

    America today

    MADD has helped to save nearly 330,000 lives… and counting.

  • Colleen Sheehey-Church

  • MADD’S New Tagline

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  • Power Of Parents

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    MADD launches the next phase of Power of Parents, a research-based program designed for parents of middle school students, to help parents have ongoing, intentional and potentially lifesaving conversations about alcohol with their kids.

  • New Vision & Mission

    A nation without drunk and drugged driving. “To end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking.”

  • Ignition Interlock Laws

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    By June of 2015, MADD helps to pass all-offender ignition interlock laws in 25 states, the most recent state being Texas.

  • DADSS Concept Car

    The DADSS concept car is unveiled at MADD’s 35th Anniversary National Conference.

  • Fundraising and Awareness

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    Walk Like MADD, the annual fundraising and awareness event, gathers communities to prevent drunk driving and honor victims.

  • 25,000

    In 2013, 10,076 people are killed due to drunk driving, a 55% drop in deaths since MADD’s founding in 1980.

  • Power of Youth

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    MADD releases Power of Youth, a new school-based program for high school teens to influence each other to not drink under 21 and never get in the car with a drinking driver.

  • Power of Parents

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    MADD launches Power of Parents, a new research-based program designed for parents of high school students, to help parents have ongoing, intentional and potentially lifesaving conversations about alcohol with their teens.

  • Video: Jan Withers

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  • MADD updates it’s logo

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    MADD updates it’s logo in 2011… the organizations third registered logo in its history.