Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog
Recent news reveals that the number of drunk driving car accidents in Boston and elsewhere is up close to 10 percent for the first half of 2012.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is responding to this news and saying that now is as good of a time as ever to start cracking down on these irresponsible and careless drivers! Advocates urged the country to fully implement and double-down on the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. According to Jan Withers, the National President for MADD it’s time for all states to join the fight and to pass laws to make sure that all drunk driving offenders get an ignition interlock device.
Our Boston drunk driving accident lawyers understand that MADD has been pushing for the all-offender ignition interlock law since 2006.
Since that time, more than 15 states have enacted this law. According to accident and arrest reports, these systems are effective in preventing drunk driving car accidents. States like Oregon and Arizona have been able to enjoy a 50 percent reduction in these incidents since the passing of their laws. Another dose of good news is that the number of ignition interlock devices using by drunk driving offenders has more than doubled in the last few years, going from only about 100,000 to close to 280,000.
Drunk driving car accidents continue to take the lives of about a third of all people who are killed in car accidents every year. These kinds of accidents are actually 100 percent preventable. As a matter of fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and close to 20 other organizations that have conducted studies into the matter prove that these devices can cut down on the number of drunk driving offenses by close to 70 percent.
“If all states enacted and enforced effective interlock laws, the nation would reverse this alarming trend in highway deaths,” Withers said.
Back in July, Congress backed one of MADD’s anti-drunk driving campaigns and handed out over $20 million for an ignition interlock incentive grant program. This was all a part of the most recent advancement of the most recent transportation legislation — MAP-21. Under this program, states that pass this ignition interlock law for all offenders are able to get some of this funding to help to fund their programs.
In the state of Massachusetts, there were more than 100 people who were killed in car accidents that involved a driver who was legally drunk. These accidents and these fatalities accounted for 32 percent of the total traffic fatalities for the year. In addition, there were another 150 people killed in car accidents that involved a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, but who was not considered to be legally drunk. None of these deaths had to happen!
If you or a loved one has been involved in a drunk driving car crash, call the Law Office of Jeffrey S. Glassman, LLC for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. Call (617) 777-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Massachusetts DUI Accidents: Little Stopping Repeat Offenders, Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog, October 6, 2012
Boston DUI Watch: Drunk Driver Up a Tree!, Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog, September 24, 2012