Country Music Star Julie Roberts Joins Mothers Against Drunk Driving to Walk Like MADD to Eliminate Drunk Driving

Walkers Call on Nashville Leaders to Support Ignition Interlock Legislation

See Interlock Technology in Action

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) leadership will join Mercury Nashville recording artist, Julie Roberts and 800 local supporters on Saturday, June 21 at Centennial Park to participate in Walk Like MADD, a 5K non-competitive walk that encourages the community to support MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. The walk comes at a time when nearly a third of all fatal crashes on Tennessee's roadways involve a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

"The main reason people continue to drive drunk today - despite 27 years of intense public education and law enforcement's best efforts - is because they can," said Glynn Birch, national president of MADD. "My son might be here today if the offender that killed him had an interlock on his vehicle." Birch's 21-month-old-son Courtney was killed 20 years ago on May 3, 1988, by a drunk driver with a blood alcohol level of .26 at the time of the crash and was driving with a revoked license and three prior DUI convictions.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 408 people were killed in Tennessee in traffic crashes involving a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher in 2006. Each year half a million others are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes nationally. A recent report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration also reported that 12.4 percent of Tennesseans admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol at least once in the past year.

One proven method to reduce drunk driving is the installation of alcohol ignition interlocks on convicted drunk drivers' vehicles. An alcohol ignition interlock is a breath test device linked to a vehicle's ignition system. Studies have shown alcohol ignition interlocks are up to 90 percent effective in reducing recidivism while installed on the vehicle. If all states required alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, we could save up to 4,000 lives a year.

"It is MADD's hope that during next year's legislative session, the Tennessee legislature will pass a strong law for mandatory interlock use for all convicted offenders, to prevent drunk drivers from committing this crime again," said Alexanderia Honeycutt, the walk's organizer and MADD Tennessee's senior development officer. "Drunk driving must end, and together, we can make it happen."

Nashville's third annual Walk Like MADD event - formerly known as Strides for Change - helps raise money and awareness to support MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, which calls for alcohol ignition interlocks for all drunk drivers, as well as sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols.

The ceremonies will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the walk following at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 21. Demonstrations of alcohol ignition interlocks will be conducted immediately before and following the opening ceremony and walkers will be encouraged to sign MADD's Campaign pledge.

"I feel so inspired by all of the walkers who have come out to support MADD's mission to eliminate drunk driving," said Julie Roberts. "Their participation is an incredible display of compassion and will go a long way in preventing others from experiencing the pain of losing a loved one to this violent crime."

This year, Walk Like MADD events take place in more than 30 cities across the country. Corporations and individuals form teams of 10 or more and are asked to raise $100 each through donations. Three ways to get involved in the Nashville Walk Like MADD are:

  --  If you live in the area of a walk event, register to walk or form a
      team;
  --  If you are unable to make one of the walks, sign up to raise money as
      a virtual walker, anywhere and anytime; or
  --  Give a one-time donation to the walks. Please visit
      www.walklikeMADD.org to register, donate or get more information.

To learn more about MADD or to receive free victim services, please visit www.madd.org or call (615) 360-8055. Victims/survivors of drunk driving can call 1-877-MADD-HELP 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for free victim services.

  Walk Like MADD Event Information for Saturday, June 21, 2008

  WHO: Glynn Birch, National President, MADD
  Julie Roberts, Mercury Nashville Recording Artist
  Cpt. Anthony Carter, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
  Laura Dial, Executive Director, MADD Tennessee
  Alexanderia Honeycutt, Senior Development Officer, MADD Tennessee
  Anna Marie, Host, Mix 92.9 Morning Show

  WHEN: Saturday, June 21, 2008
  Ceremonies Begin - 9:00 a.m.
  Walk Begins - 9:30 a.m.
  Interlock Demonstrations at 8:45 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

  WHERE: Centennial Park
  2600 West End Avenue
  Nashville, TN 37203