Reference no: EM131052990

While the contribution of increase of alcohol awareness is not undermined, the decrease in the alcohol-related fatalities was widely contributed to by the establishment of organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID) and Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD). These organizations besides giving support both spiritual and material, also involve themselves with awareness programs and thus to a large extent increase awareness. This is done by the organizations through organizing education seminars, monitoring and making available research findings and making them available to state legislators (Hingson). These organizations have led to the passing of more than 2,000 state laws which contribute to the reduction of alcohol-impaired driving (NHTSA).

Since MADD started the positive effect had dramatically changed many lives. Drunk driving has decreased while the convictions have increased. "From the 2002 and 2003 U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 21% of minors ages 16-20 reported DUI involving either alcohol or illicit drugs in the past-year. 17% reported past year DUI involving alcohol." (Maxwell, Freeman, Davey 2009) The amount of underage drivers that are intoxicated while driving is upsetting. It is nervous to see new drivers on the road, but shocking to be willing to endanger themselves and other people in the car with them. Driving is always a new and exciting experience, but it isn't worth risking your life due to intoxication. From the Bureau of Justice Statistics, "in 1999, the number of arrests for driving while intoxicated fell from 1,124 per 100,000 licensed drivers in 1986 to 809,000 per 100,000 in 1997. But demographics have also played a role. Federal researchers contend that the general aging of population is one reason why there are fewer drunk drivers. The two other reasons for declining drunk-driving injuries and deaths: safer cars and higher rates of seat belt usage. " (Maxwell, Freeman & Davey 2009). As a result of MADD, there have been records showing that positive results of fewer deaths for the past 33 years. People have become more aware of the laws and technology has advanced greatly to save more lives. According to MADD's website, "Every 53 minutes on average, someone is killed in a drunken driving crash (9,878 people in total in 2011)." ("About drunk driving," 2012) Though the numbers have dropped over the last few decades, the number is too high. There has been progress in the past decades, but there are still people dying form drunk driving. I feel that since MADD has made great strides in changing policies they should start educating people. There should be more services that teach people about drinking and how to do it responsibly. If more people are educated then the hope is people can make better choices.