MADD Salutes New Mexico's Stepped Up Actions To Stop Deadly Drunk Driving

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced that while the country's number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities appear to have increased from 2004 to 2005, New Mexico sets an example for anti-drunk driving progress. The New Mexico Department of Transportation indicates that alcohol-related injury crashes dropped by 20 percent and overall alcohol-related crashes declined by more than 17 percent in 2005 versus 2004. Additionally, drunk driving fatalities decreased 12 percent from 219 deaths in 2004 to 193 in 2005.  Because of these outcomes, MADD National selected New Mexico as the site for its first International Technology Symposium held earlier this week and brought together more than 100 participants to examine current and emerging technology and its effectiveness in preventing drunk driving.

"MADD is extremely pleased with successes coming out of New Mexico and it is viewed increasingly as the national model for combating anti-drunk driving in part because of the ignition interlock law imposed on convicted first time drunk driving offenders," said Chuck Hurley, chief executive officer of MADD. "New Mexico saves lives and prevents injuries in part due to a strong ignition interlock law and enforcement of that law that in turn separates potential drunken drivers from their 'weapons.'" Interlocks have been shown to reduce recidivism of drunk driving offenses by 50 to 90 percent compared to those individuals who were not assigned an interlock. "Drunk driving is a priority to New Mexico's executive and legislative branches who ultimately, because they are bi-partisan and multilevel, can produce real results that save lives and prevent injuries," added Hurley.

Governor Bill Richardson, said, "This is a recognition of all we have done to combat DWI in New Mexico. As Governor I have worked tirelessly on this issue -- appointing a DWI Czar, toughening penalties and strengthening law enforcement, requiring ignition interlock, increasing public awareness, and beefing up education. These efforts are working and we are pleased to see reductions in DWI fatalities, DWI crashes and DWI injury crashes. But we still have more work to do."

New Mexico accomplishments in the area of drunk driving include: increased penalties and treatment for offenders; ramped up statewide high-visibility law enforcement including checkpoints and a year-round DWI media campaign; a hotline for citizens to report drunk drivers; appointed DWI Czar Rachel O'Connor to work with law enforcement, courts, state agencies, the media and advocacy groups such as MADD; and passed a law to make it a 4th degree felony for those who purchase or give alcohol to a minor.   

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) alcohol-related traffic fatality statistics show that nationally there was an increase of 1.7 percent from 16,694 in 2004 to 16,972 in 2005 - the first increase since 2002.  Despite this, alcohol-related injury crashes in New Mexico declined from 1,588 in 2004 to 1,267 in 2005, while alcohol-related crashes in the state dropped from 3,336 in 2004 to 2,755 in 2005.  Terry Huertez, executive director, MADD New Mexico, pointed out, "Each of these numbers represent people who have been impacted.  MADD's trained victim advocates serve many families of drunk driving who are often trying to cope with the aftermath of grief, the ripple effects on family members, legal issues and financial pressures."

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