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Massachusetts Scores Low in MADD Report on Drunk Driving Laws

Receives 2 out of 5 in State-by-State Ratings

01/05/2017

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BOSTON (January 5, 2017) — Following release of a convincing new report that finds ignition interlocks reduce fatal drunk driving crashes by 7 percent, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is renewing its call for Massachusetts legislators to pass an ignition interlock law for all convicted drunk driving offenders this year.

The Senate passed a version of SB 1895, authored by Senator James Timilty, in 2016 to expand Massachusetts ignition interlock laws to all offenders. The bill did not receive a vote by the House before adjournment. Senator Timilty and Representative Louis Kafka will sponsor the legislation in 2017.

“MADD will be back in Boston this year to work with legislators on passing a law that will protect the citizens of Massachusetts,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church. “There is mounting evidence that ignition interlocks reduce drunk driving fatalities, and we know that requiring all drunk driving offenders to use these devices will help us reach our goal of No More Victims.”

A comprehensive study by Johns Hopkins concluded that states that require all offenders to use an ignition interlock after the first offense reduced fatal drunk driving crashes by 7 percent. States with partial requirements such as Massachusetts’ law for repeat offenders, experienced a 2 percent reduction in fatal drunk driving crashes, researchers found.

“Massachusetts is one of only two states that fails to utilize interlocks for first-time offenders, and is the only New England state, and one of 22 across the nation, that has not passed an all-offender ignition interlock law,” Sheehey-Church said. “The lack of an all-offender law brought down Massachusetts’ rating in MADD’s recent state-by-state ranking.”

The state rating of drunk driving reform efforts, included in MADD’s annual Report to the Nation, placed Massachusetts laws in the bottom 25 percent of the nation. Massachusetts received two stars on the five-star rating scale.

States were awarded stars in the 5-star rating for adopting drunk driving laws and/or implementing proven countermeasures that include:

  • Conducting sobriety checkpoints
  • Ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders
  • Creating enhanced penalties for those who drive drunk with children in the vehicle
  • Participating in “no-refusal” activities for those suspected of drunk driving
  • Utilizing Administrative License Revocation for drunk driving offenders

As a new feature to help states pass the most effective drunk driving laws, this year’s five categories each have two subcategories, allowing for half-star ratings for states that need to improve their existing laws. For example, all states that conduct sobriety checkpoints receive a half-star, but those that conduct them at least once a month receive a full star.

MADD’s Report to the Nation is available at madd.org/2016campaignreport. MADD is the sole author of the report, which is based on 36 years of experience working to pass lifesaving legislation, along with data from various respected government, research and public safety organization sources. For more information about MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, visit www.madd.org/campaign.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD changed American culture by introducing the “designated driver” in 1986 and related red ribbon awareness campaign Tie One On For Safety® now in its 30th year. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® is marking its 10th anniversary and reducing drunk driving fatalities by 25 percent since its launch. MADD supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, providing a service every four minutes through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Power of Parents® and Power of Youth® programs reduce underage drinking. Learn more by visiting madd.org or calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.

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