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3277 Pine Orchard Lane, Suite 1
Ellicott City, MD 21042 (410)465-5757

What is MADD?

MADD is a grassroots, volunteer based, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating impaired driving and to supporting the victims of this violent crime, and curbing underage alcohol use. Its activities include public education programs for adults and youth, legislative efforts to enact stronger impaired driving and underage drinking laws, and a variety of victim support programs.

What MADD is not...

MADD does not oppose the use of alcohol for adults. Rather, it advocates the responsible use of alcohol for those who drink, particularly when faced with the option to drink and drive.

MADD is not an organization for mothers alone. Its membership is comprised of men and women, adults and young people, who are concerned with eliminating the tragedies that result from drinking and driving.

MADD's History

MADD was founded in 1980 in response to one woman's loss of her daughter to a drunk driver in California. MADD soon grew into a nationwide organization with almost two million members and supporters and with more than 600 affiliates in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Great Britain.  Since MADD was founded, traffic deaths have dropped by 44 percent and helped save over 300,000 lives, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

MADD in Howard County, MD

A local MADD chapter was chartered by the National Organization in Howard County 18 years ago. The chapter works with the Howard County Police Department, Fire and Rescue Services, Public Schools, Office of Substance Abuse Impact Services, State's Attorney's Office, court system and other government agencies and nonprofits concerned with impaired driving and underage drinking. All funds raised by the chapter remain in the county for community based activities.

General Statistics

• Nationwide in 2006, 17,602 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes. 
• In Maryland in 2006, 268 individuals died in alcohol-related crashes. These deaths constituted approximately 41% of total traffic fatalities.
• Alcohol-related crashes kill almost 50 people a day -- one death every 31 minutes.
• Each year another 275,000 people are injured in these crashes.
• About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.
• Economic costs of alcohol-related crashes are estimated to be $114.3 billion yearly.
• Impairment is not determined by the type of drink, but rather by the amount of alcohol ingested over a specific period of time.
• Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime.

Youth Statistics

• Alcohol use is the number one problem among young people.
• In 2005, 2,035 youth (aged 15-20) were killed in alcohol-related crashes, accounting for more than 35 percent of all traffic deaths in that age group.
• Underage alcohol use is more likely to kill young people than all other drugs combined.
• The younger an individual starts drinking, and the greater the intensity and frequency of alcohol consumption, the greater the risk of using other drugs.
• Youth who drink alcohol are 7.5 times more likely to use any illicit drug, and 50 times more likely to use cocaine than young people who never drink alcohol.
• Illegal consumption of alcohol by minors led to 3,212 deaths and 2.4 million other harmful events in the lives of American families in 2001.
• Underage drinkers account for about 16 percent of all alcohol consumed in the U.S. annually.
• The U.S. Surgeon General reports that life expectancy has improved in the U.S. over the past 75 years for every age group except one: the death rate for 15- to 24-year-olds is higher today than it was 20 years ago. The leading cause of death is drunk and drugged driving.
• 35% of children in fourth grade report having been pressured by their classmates to drink. By the time they have reached 6th grade, 49% have been pressured.
• 33% of nearly 200,000 students surveyed said that their parents often do not set clear rules. Half said they are not disciplined routinely when they break the rules.

For additional statistics on drunk driving and underage alcohol use, please contact the chapter office.

If you hear about a party where alcohol is going to be served, call the Howard County Police Department Party Buster Hotline at 410-313-2284.

For Parents...

It is tough to sort through all the mixed messages that society promotes about alcohol. Your child deserves a clear, uncompromising message from you. Here are a few suggestions that may make the job a little easier.

1. Set a good example because they are watching you. Be moderate in your own use of alcohol. "Do as I say, not as I do" doesn't cut it.
2. Teach your child that actions have consequences at any age. Every choice matters. Talk to them about alcohol and talk early. Get to know your children and the decisions they are facing.
3. Set reasonable but firm rules that you plan to enforce. Explain the facts about alcohol as well as your family's opinions. Make it clear that alcohol is not an option until your child is 21. Discipline, curfews, and structure are non-negotiable, but they should be understood and enforced.
4. Teach your children about friendship. When peer pressure hits, they will be more likely to stand up to their friends. Get to know their friends and their friends' parents. Work together to provide a consistent no-use message.
5. Let them know you see what's going on. Tell them you know what happens among teenagers, maybe even their friends, and discuss why your child should not participate in these activities. Point out the dangers and consequences of alcohol.
6. Don't be naive. Watch for signs of abuse, such as grades dropping, switching friends, missing money, and withdrawal from family, to name a few. If you sense a problem, seek help.

The Howard County Police Department has initiated a new policy requiring officers to notify parents by phone or mail following a traffic stop involving a juvenile with a provisional driver's license.  Officers will also contact parents if a juvenile with a provisional license is the driver at fault in a vehicle collision.  Parents will be provided with the date, time, nature and location of the incident, the type of enforcement action taken, the vehicle being driven and the number of passengers in the car.  Last year, nearly one-third of the people killed in fatal collisions handled by the Howard County police were between the ages of 16 and 20.  This age group is at the highest risk for a fatal crash, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.

For More Information...

For students in elementary school through college to educators and parents, the National MADD web site -- www.madd.org -- is a vital resource for statistics, articles, materials, information, links and advocacy for the prevention of underage drinking.  Whether it's for a school project, personal interest or assistance in dealing with pressures to drink, www.madd.org is the site for students to visit.  Tuning in to technology -- especially online -- is how kids of all ages today get information, interact with peers and seek advice.  The web site also provides a great forum for parents and educators to get involved in a way that's relevant to today's youth.

Activities

MADD annually distributes over 100,000 red ribbons to Howard County motorists. MADD asks drivers to "tie one on for safety" by attaching a ribbon to their vehicle as a symbol of the motorists' commitment to drive sober and to remind other drivers to do the same. Each ribbon is accompanied by an information card listing drunk driving statistics and offering suggestions on what every motorist can do to eliminate the problem.

Supplies of ribbons are delivered to over 60 distribution points throughout the County shortly before Thanksgiving. Look for them at local grocery stores, businesses, offices, and government agencies. They are also available through the Chapter office.  Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season.  The period from Thanksgiving through New Years is also the heaviest traffic season of the year and a time when drunk driving typically increases.

Red ribbons and information cards for the campaign were funded by a grant from the Maryland State Highway Administration's Highway Safety Office.

Victim Impact Panels for offenders are  scheduled at 7:30PM, at the Chapelgate Presbyterian Church, 2600 Marriotsville Road, Marriottsville on the following 2008 dates:

January 21, February 18, March 10, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, and December 15.

Offenders sentenced by the court to attend the Panels hear firsthand from MADD victim members how a drunk driver changed their lives forever. Over 1,000 offenders attend these local Victim Impact Panels each year. There is a $30.00 attendance fee, money order only.  All Panel proceeds support public education projects for youth and adults and victim support activities in the community. Panel speakers and personnel are all unpaid volunteers.

The chapter also offers a quarterly schedule of Victim Impact Panels for Spanish speaking offenders in Howard County.  Spanish speaking volunteers are needed for translating of forms and resource materials as well as to assist with check-ins and facilitation.

If you are a victim of a drunk driver, including a family member, friend or co-worker of the person injured or killed, and would like to talk with someone, please call our office. The Victim Advocates can also provide assistance in a variety of other areas, such as court accompaniment and help with preparing a victim impact statement.

MADD's national website at www.madd.org can help victims and survivors find resources to handle the legal, medical and financial issues they may face as a result of being impacted by a drunk driving crash.  Victim/survivor discussion forums are also available to help online users meet other people who have been similarly affected by drunk driving or underage drinking.  Please call 1-877-MADD-HELP for 24 hour victim assistance.

MADD Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving

Mothers Against Drunk Driving recently launched a bold new initiative designed to eliminate one of the nation's deadliest crimes.  MADD's national Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving aims to literally wipe out drunk driving in the U.S.

Despite a more than 40% decline in alcohol-related fatalities since MADD was founded in 1980, every year nearly 13,000 are killed by drunk drivers with an illegal blood alcohol concentration of .08 or above and countless others injured.  As a nation, our efforts to prevent drunk driving have stalled.

MADD's plan to eradicate this public health threat requires new strategies to compliment current methods.  This four point plan concentrates on:

• Intensive high visibility law enforcement, including twice yearly crackdowns and frequent enforcement efforts that include sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols in all 50 states;

• Full implementation of current alcohol admission interlock technologies, including efforts to require alcohol ignition interlock devices for all convicted drunk drivers.  A key part of this effort will be working with judges, prosecutors and state driver's license officials to stop the revolving door of repeat offenders;

• Exploration of advanced vehicle technologies through the establishment of a Blue Ribbon panel of international safety experts to assess the feasibility of a range of technologies that would prevent drunk driving.  These technologies must be moderately priced, absolutely reliable, set at the legal BAC limit and unobtrusive to the sober driver; and

• Mobilization of grassroots support, led by MADD and its 400+ affiliates, to make the elimination of drunk driving a reality.  MADD is uniting drunk driving victims, families, community leaders, and policy makers in the fight to eliminate drunk driving.

To receive a copy of "The Pledge to Eliminate Drunk Driving," contact our office.

We need your help

Join MADD.  There is no longer a charge for anyone to be a MADD member.  A member is any person who supports the purposes and policies of MADD and its mission.  The only membership requirement is a completed application.  Individuals can submit an application on line at http://www.madd.org/membership/ or with a paper application through the mail or in person.  For a paper application please call our chapter office.

Volunteer to help. A variety of needs exist. We can't offer you pay, but we can offer you a time limited commitment (long or short), training, the satisfaction of working with other dedicated volunteers, and the chance to contribute to your community. The chapter has a special need for a Volunteer Coordinator. For a description and complete listing of volunteer positions, please contact our office.

Never drink and drive or allow a friend to drink and drive.

Support legislation to strengthen drunk driving and underage drinking laws. Contact your local, county, state, and federal officials to show your support.

Designate a driver before you leave the house if your evening is going to involve drinking.

Start educating your children early about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs.

MADD also needs your financial assistance. The chapter has placed point-of-purchase donation boxes at a number of local Howard County stores.  Please look for them and make a contribution if you can. Also please consider designating your United Way of Central Maryland pledge through your workplace to the Howard County Chapter of MADD.  All proceeds raised will support public awareness and education projects for youth and adults and victim assistance activities in Howard County. MADD is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.

To make a secure online donation, please go here.

Contact us

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to mail howard.md@madd.org. We can also be reached at our office in Howard County by calling 410-465-5757.

This page was designed and is maintained by Benjamin Hoffman.

Contact Us

MADD History

MADD in Howard County

Some Statistics

Activities

We need help...

Membership

Donations

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