MADD Seeks To Eliminate Alcohol Related Deaths And Injuries In Diverse Communities

DALLAS – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is expanding its efforts to save lives and prevent injuries among the Hispanic, African American and Native American communities as released in a new report. The action steps were borne from MADD’s Diversity Forum II held in May to forge partnerships and create solutions for drunk driving, underage drinking and seat belt use issues within diverse communities.

“Diverse populations are overrepresented in traffic fatalities,” says Glynn Birch, national president of MADD, the first male and African American president in the organization’s history, whose 21-month-old son was killed by a drunk driver in 1988. “Despite our cultural differences, we all share a common risk on the roadways. We want to work in partnership with diverse groups to make a measurable impact on the problem.”

Earlier this year, MADD invited local, state and national leaders representing dozens of diverse groups and health and safety organizations to discuss greater outreach initiatives and identify solutions for minimizing deaths and injuries. Race and ethnicity data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that among those killed in traffic crashes, diverse populations—with the exception of Asians and Pacific Islanders—were more often driving while intoxicated, less often validly licensed, and less likely to be wearing safety belts than the general population.

“With so many lives at stake, MADD is committed to finding culturally appropriate solutions to decrease drunk driving and underage drinking, and increase seat belt use,” says Sammy Quintana, former member of MADD’s National Board of Directors whose father was killed by a drunk driver more than 30 years ago. “The number of people within diverse populations is growing, but that doesn’t mean the number of deaths and injuries have to rise as a result. MADD wants to join all communities in protecting their loved ones from preventable tragedies.”

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