MADD

ACTS was honored to participate in MADD's Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall and pay tribute to the victims, families and survivors of drunk driving.?Their advocacy has led to advancements of in-vehicle technology like what we've created with the DADSS Program, which was on display at the event. As our President and CEO Robert Strassburger said, the continued loss of life from drunk driving is simply unacceptable, and we owe it to the victims and families to do everything we can, as quickly as we can, to reverse this heartbreaking and deadly trend.? Thank you to everyone at MADD for organizing this event and welcoming us, including Stacey D. Stewart, MBA, Stephanie Manning, Becky Iannotta, Jan Withers, Ian Goldstein, MA, Sheila Lockwood, Charles Hurley, and Rana Abbas Taylor. Your leadership reminds us every day of the importance of succeeding. We also recognize the support of Senator Ben Ray Lujan, former Senator Elizabeth Dole, Reps. Debbie Dingell and Rashida Tlaib, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy, as well as Shannon Frattoroli and Jeff Michael at The Johns Hopkins University, Natalie Draisin at the FIA Foundation, and Darrin T Grondel Ed.D. at Responsibility.org, who joined us for this solemn event.

15 years ago, 20-year-old Miriam Frankl was tragically killed by a drunk driver. The Johns Hopkins University students lobbied and testified for state legislation to address drunk driving. I will always be grateful to Aliza Silver, JD MPH and Molly Dillon for continuing the fight after I graduated. Miriam was not alone - around the world, road traffic injuries are the leading killer of young people ages 5-29. In response to Miriam's death, MADD's Jan Withers and Caroline Cash opened my eyes to the tireless, heartbroken, growing community advocating for a day when there are no more victims. DADSS drove my obsession with a solution - technology to combat drunk driving. How meaningful it was to come full circle this week, joining MADD's Stacey D. Stewart, MBA, DADSS's Robert Strassburger, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Shannon Frattaroli and Jeff Michael on Capitol Hill. The Honorable Elizabeth Dole, Representative Debbie Dingell, Senator Ben Lujan, and NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy joined us to call upon the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA to advance anti-drunk driving technology enabled by the HALT Drunk Driving Act. Each of the 10,000 candles on the National Mall represented a person killed annually by a drunk driver. Candles were accompanied by photos, a family photo album of generations of lives cut short. We cannot wait for another generation to be killed this year. It could be you, me, your family, your friend. Every single death is preventable. It is my dream to see this technology in every car. I will not stop until we get there. Recap of event: https://lnkd.in/eScv2uWP

To all of the victims, survivors and supporters who traveled from near and far to attend the event - thank you. A simple “thank you” doesn’t feel adequate for the energy, love, and determination you brought to this cause. We promise to continue this fight until anti-drunk driving technology is the standard in every new car. We promise to be the voice for those who have been taken or injured by this senseless and 100% preventable crime. We are in awe of all the support we have received in the days following our Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C. So many of you have shared words of encouragement and solidarity, and we are deeply grateful. The HALT Act, which mandates anti-drunk driving technology in all new vehicles, was born out of far too many tragedies and named in honor of the Abbas family. On January 6, 2019, Rana Abbas Taylor’s sister, Rima, her brother-in-law, Issam, and their three beautiful children - Ali, Isabella, and Giselle - were killed by a drunk driver. Their lives, full of love and promise, were stolen in an instant. Their story, and countless others like it, drive our mission every day. We must ensure that their legacies inspire lasting change. We will keep fighting to make this technology a reality - for the Abbas family, for every victim and survivor, and for every one of the lives that must still be saved. Thank you. #MADD #Safety #Advocacy #ThankYou

Last night, 10,000 candles lit up the National Mall, each representing a life that could be saved every year through anti-drunk driving technology enabled by the HALT Drunk Driving Act. It was a powerful moment of unity, remembrance, and action. This message wasn’t just for policymakers—it’s for the automakers who can help make it a reality. Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Tesla, Toyota Motor Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company (?????), Stellantis, Volvo Group, Volkswagen Group and all the other automakers who have stood behind the DADSS program. The technology exists, and lives are at stake. The time to act is now. Stand with us to lead the charge and save lives. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and lent their voices to this critical cause. A special thanks to Senator Lujan, Senator Scott, Rep. Dingell, Rep. Lawler, Rep. Kiley, Rep. Tlaib and NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy for championing this life-saving effort. An additional special thank you to Senator Dole for being a fierce advocate and attending last nights event. #HALTAct #MADD #Technology

Last night, GHSA stood with MADD amid 10,000 illuminated candles to both remember those killed each year in drunk driving crashes and highlight how many lives can be saved with in-vehicle technology. Drunk driving is a preventable crime that kills or injures someone every 78 seconds. We have the tools to prevent it. It's past time to act. As National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a stirring call to action, "We mourn the dead, and we fight like hell for the living."

Today was a historic day for MADD! We held a candlelight vigil of 10,000 lights on the National Mall today to recognize that we still have more work to do to implement anti-drunk driving technology which was mandated three years ago with the passage of the #HALTAct. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA has not met the deadline which passed a few days ago to complete the rulemaking for the technology. It has been three years. In three years, over 30k lives have been lost and hundreds of thousands of people injured due to impaired driving. Once the technology is implemented, it will save 10k lives PER YEAR! Our message today? We can’t wait! NHTSA, the automakers and advocates must come together to get this technology implemented.. now. We were joined today by dozens of victims and survivors, Former US U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Dole, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy, Senator Ben Ray Lujan, Rep. Debbie Dingell and Rep. Rashida Tlaib and representatives of our Anti Drunk Driving Coalition. #ImpairedDrivingEndsHere

SAFE was honored to support MADD at its solemn candlelight vigil this evening on the National Mall in our nation’s capital to mourn those who have been killed by impaired drivers. Ten thousand candles were illuminated representing the number of lives we can and must save each year in the U.S.??We join with MADD in calling for the end to this tragic and preventable national epidemic. MADD #transportation #drunkdriving #NHTSA #Congress #NoMoreVictims #impaireddriving #MADD

Every face in this photo collage represents all of the lives stolen and forever changed by drunk driving-a tragedy that could have been prevented. ?? These lives are why we're gathering tomorrow on the National Mall for a powerful candlelight vigil, urging lawmakers to prioritize the HALT Act and push forward life-saving anti-drunk driving technology. Join us in honoring these lives and demanding action. Bring friends, family, and anyone who wants to see an end to this senseless crime. Let’s make our voices heard loud and clear. Help us bring change. #safety #advocacy #advocate

This #InternationalERGDay, we asked our Employee Resource Group (ERG) members what being part of an ERG means to them. The overwhelming theme in their responses? Community and inclusivity. ?? These reflections are a testament to the power of celebrating diversity. By uplifting every voice, we strengthen the foundation of our work—to end impaired driving and provide support for victims and survivors. #ImpairedDrivingEndsHere

Please take a moment to listen to this important message from our CEO, Stacey D. Stewart, MBA. Click the link below to sign up for the Advocacy Network, and join us in our fight to end impaired driving. Every voice matters, and we need yours. https://madd.org/advocate/