Every year the anti-drunk driving group, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) releases its “Report to the Nation,” which includes a ranking of states and their drunk driving laws, to demonstrate the progress of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.
Using a five-star rating system, states were awarded stars based on their implementation of anti-drunk driving laws and measures such as ignition interlock devices, use of sobriety checkpoints, use of “no-refusal” measures for suspected drunk drivers, increased penalties for DUI when children are in the vehicle, and license suspension or revocation measures.
Unlike previous years, each of the categories mentioned above included two subcategories which allowed for half stars for states which needed to improve their current laws.
“Ten years ago, MADD launched our Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving because we truly believe we have a blueprint for our nation to end this violent crime,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church. “By joining with our federal and state legislative partners and representing the one million victims we have served, MADD has helped pass laws that will lead us to a nation of No More Victims. We’ve made great progress, but with more than 10,000 lives lost to drunk driving in 2015 — and concerns that the numbers are even higher in 2016 — we still have a lot of work to do.”
So how did California and other states do?
California came in with 3.5 stars. Although four California counties requires the installation of an ignition interlock device upon a DUI conviction, MADD refrained from giving California a star. California also only receive half a star for its child endangerment laws.
While no state received five stars, several received 4.5 stars including Arizona, Maryland, Mississippi, and West Virginia.
Montana came in last as the only state to receive half a star.
The national average was 2.91 stars.
The full report can be viewed here: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/886615/
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