The Inspiring Display in D.C. Brings Hundreds Together to Urge USDOT Action on Lifesaving Anti-Drunk Driving Technology
Washington, D.C. – Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) transformed the National Mall in Washington, D.C., into a powerful symbol of hope, lighting 10,000 candles to represent the lives that could be saved annually by implementing anti-drunk driving technology mandated by the bipartisan HALT Drunk Driving Act. This moving tribute brought together victims, survivors, advocates, and lawmakers, amplifying a unified call for swift action from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to finalize this critical safety standard.
Hundreds of supporters, dressed in red and holding candles to honor their loved ones, learned that one type of anti-drunk driving technology — the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) — will be ready for auto makers in 2025. With a DADSS test car on display against the backdrop of the U.S. Capitol, victims and survivors, members of Congress and NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called for immediate action to stop the 13,000 deaths per year caused by drunk driving.
“Our display on the National Mall symbolizes MADD’s commitment to ending drunk driving through groundbreaking vehicle technology,” said MADD CEO Stacey D. Stewart. “We can’t afford any further delays with the HALT Drunk Driving Act, which has the potential to save over 10,000 lives annually. We urge the USDOT to expedite implementation of anti-drunk driving technology in every car. This is a defining moment for our nation’s commitment to safety, and we owe it to every family impacted by drunk driving to see this technology through.”
Although the USDOT missed its November 15, 2024, Congressional deadline to issue this vital standard, the event underscored the pressing need for immediate action to fulfill the HALT Drunk Driving Act. Drunk driving fatalities have increased by 33% since 2019, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The NTSB has recommended prioritizing prevention technology in all vehicles to stop this crime, which kills or injures someone every 78 seconds in the U.S.
“There are technology solutions available on the market that can eliminate drunk driving once and for all … systems that we’ve been recommending for years,” said NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. “We must pursue every strategy and system that can prevent drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel NOW. We cannot afford to wait any longer — 37 lives a day depend on it.”
The Honoring the Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate (HALT) Drunk Driving Act is named in remembrance of Rima and Issam Abbas and their three children, Ali, Isabella and Giselle, who were killed on January 6, 2019, while driving home to Michigan from a Florida vacation.
The law was championed by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI).
“Each year, far too many lives are taken from us too soon on our nation’s roadways,” said Senator Luján. “I am honored to join Mothers Against Drunk Driving to remember the victims of drunk driving and reaffirm my commitment to reduce the number of deaths on our roadways to zero. During my time in Congress, I am proud to have championed the HALT/RIDE Act, legislation that implements life-saving technology to prevent thousands of deaths each year. I urge the Department of Transportation to get this done immediately, and for industry partners to step up and be part of the solution. I remain committed to working with my colleagues to end unnecessary deaths by drunk driving once and for all.”
Said Congresswoman Dingell: “Drunk and impaired driving has brought so much pain to families across the country, including the Abbas family from Michigan, who I represent. There are too many stories like the Abbas’ in communities across the country. Too many families have holes in them that can never be filled. We have the technology to prevent drunk driving and save lives, and it’s long past time that we use it. I urge NHTSA to issue a final rule and will continue working to do everything we can to prevent senseless loss of life due to drunk driving.”
The HALT Drunk Driving Act, passed in 2021, mandates that all new cars be equipped with anti-drunk driving technology, an auto safety advancement akin to seatbelts, airbags, and backup cameras. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, this technology could prevent over 10,000 deaths each year, representing one of the most significant advancements in vehicle safety history.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of families and children, and tragically far too many lives have been cut short as a result of drunk driving,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY), a defender of the HALT Act. “I’m proud to have been recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving as a ‘Legislative Hero’ and I’m proud to stand with MADD in calling for swift implementation of the HALT Drunk Driving Act. Expeditious implementation of this legislation, which was signed into law in 2021, has the potential to save thousands of lives per year. We simply cannot delay – one life lost to drunk driving is too many.”
Said Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA), another defender of the HALT Act and a leader in the fight against drunk driving: “Looking out at 10,000 candles, each representing a life that could be saved, should be a powerful reminder of the necessity for prompt, effective federal action.”
American support for anti-drunk driving technology is strong. According to a new survey announced Tuesday by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Injury Research and Policy, 76% of respondents believe drunk driving prevention technology is more likely to reduce drunk driving deaths than relying on drivers to determine whether they have had too much to drink before driving. The survey, conducted for the Technical Working Group for Advanced Impaired Driving Prevention Technology, found nearly three-quarters of adults are willing to wait 4 seconds or more for their car to test for alcohol impairment before they can start their trip.
Building on that public support is key to the new HALT Drunk Driving Coalition announced by MADD on Tuesday. More than 50 inaugural organizations from public health, traffic safety, private industry, and others have joined the coalition to communicate a unified, powerful message promoting anti-drunk driving technology in all cars.
Stewart likened the lifesaving impact of anti-drunk driving technology to the extraordinary safety advances made in the 1980s, including seat belt use, airbags, and the legal drinking age of 21. She highlighted the leadership of then-USDOT Secretary Elizabeth Dole, who received MADD’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her role in championing these initiatives.
“I have worked hand in hand with MADD for more than forty years. As many know, I lost an uncle to a drunk driver, and the impact on my grandmother and mother was lifelong,” said Dole. “Advanced vehicle technologies now allow us to finish the job and eliminate drunk driving. These technologies must be phased in as soon as they become available.”
About MADD
Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is a national nonprofit leading the movement to end impaired driving for good. Since 1980, MADD has helped reduce drunk driving deaths in America by nearly 40%, saved more than 475,000 lives, and served more than one million victims and survivors. The organization is committed to leading prevention efforts with young adults, collaborating with law enforcement to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers, as well as advocating for stricter sentencing and stronger laws, including the HALT Act that mandates anti-drunk driving technology in every new car. MADD continues to provide support services to victims and survivors of impaired driving at no charge through victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. For more information or to donate, visit https://madd.org/ and follow MADD on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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