Madd’s Effect on Social Policy

Case Study: MADD’S Effect on Social Policy

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a not for profit organization found in Canada and USA seeking to stop drunk driving, prevent underage driving, support the people affected by drunk driving as well as pushing for stricter policies on alcohol. The organization was founded in September 1980 in California after a 13-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver. Candace Lightner the girl’s mother founded the organization after her daughter’s death. The organization was therefore formed to lobby for the government and other stakeholders to make strict rules that avoided drunk driving and that enabled organizations such as MADD to fight drunk driving. The organization is also vocal in agitating for rules to ensure there are no underage drinking as well as support those who are affected by drunk driving (David, 2014).

In September 3, 1980, a 13-year-old girl Cari Lightner was walking on a road when she was hit by a speeding car. When the police arrested the driver, it was found out that he had been charged several times of intoxication while driving and this particular day, he was drunk too. After the incident, the mother to the daughter was compelled to do something about the situation that was causing about 27,000 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the country. Candace learnt from a policemen that drunk driving was usually lightly prosecuted and that her child’s killer was not likely to spend significant time in the jail. She therefore decided to take action against “the only socially accepted form of homicide.” With this, Lightner sought to push for stricter prosecution and consequences for drunk drivers who were kind of getting away with the offences scot free (Mandy, 2005).

The problem of drunk driving was identified as a social problem when Candace realized that drunk driving offence was charged rather leniently and the consequences were not enough to compel the offenders to avoid driving while drunk. She felt that this was not acceptable since drunk driving was causing too many deaths on the roads per year. In California alone where she came from the year 1980 saw about 2500 deaths caused by drunk driving. This had to be stopped or avoided and Candace sought to be at the frontline in championing for this cause. This was a social problem because it affected various people in the society and keeping quiet about the situation was not helping in any way. The government had to be compelled to do something about it too.

As a result of MADD, there were several policies that were created to make it possible for a reduction in the deaths from drunk driving. The first thing that Candace did was to lobby the California Governor to develop a task force to investigate the issue of drunk