Mothers Against Drunk Driving
BSHS 355
Kathleen Parks
Tristram Jones
September 18, 2014
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) aims to stop drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and support the victims of drunk-driving (National Consumer Voice. (2014). Candace Lightner established M.A.D.D. after encountering drunk drivers and loosing her eldest daughter that was on a school field trip, to a drunk driver. Lightner’s grievances didn’t end there, her eighteen-month-old daughter and son were also injured by a drunk driver. The intoxicated driver who was responsible for her eldest daughter’s death was in jail two days prior to the incident due to repeated offenses. Lightner was informed that the responsible party for her daughter’s death may not be held accountable for the crime, and her daughter would become a victim of an injustice. She was aware of the possibility that other families may suffer the same tragedy that happened to her family. On the day her daughter died, she promised to make the tragedy her motivation to do something good in the future.
The group was established by Lightner on May 7, 1980 to provide support to other victims and prevent drunk driving. The organizations goal is to aspire, encourage, an understanding the risks of drunk driving as well as support strict laws that will insure justice for the victims. In order to make the public more conscious of the drive and encourage the creation of laws, Lightner spoke to professionals and business organizations, and became a guest on a number of television shows. The message of Lightner was able to effect a significant change in the mind-set of the public in connection to drunk driving, which is now considered unacceptable behavior. The endeavor of Lightner resulted in a blue ribbon commission being created by President Reagan in 1982 (Madd.20120. The commission was tasked to investigate drunk driving as well as driving under the influence of drugs....