MADD to Participate in Traffic Safety Symposium to Encourage New Jersey's Lawmakers to Strengthen Impaired Driving Laws

New National President available to discuss lifesaving alcohol ignition interlocks

WHAT: Laura Dean-Mooney, Mothers Against Drunk Driving's (MADD) new national president, will participate in the New Jersey Transportation Safety Legislative Symposium hosted by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), to discuss S. 1926, a bill that will require all convicted drunk drivers, including those convicted for the first time, to install alcohol ignition interlocks on their vehicles. The bill is named "Ricci's Law" in memory of Ricci Branca, a 17-year-old killed by a drunk driver in a hit-and-run in 2006.

Arrangements for phone interviews can be made by calling Mike McNeil at (202) 572-2889 or Misty Moyse at (469) 420-4558.

  WHEN:        Thursday, July 24, 2008
  12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

WHY: In 2006, more than 224 people were killed on New Jersey roadways in drunk driving crashes. In addition, NHTSA data shows that New Jersey families are sharing the road everyday with nearly 20,000 drivers with three or more drunk driving convictions and over 1,600 with five or more convictions. Alcohol ignition interlocks on the vehicles of all convicted drunk drivers will significantly reduce deaths and injuries due to drunk driving and will also prevent those convicted of DUI from driving drunk again.

MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501 (c) (3) charity with 2 million members and supporters nationwide. Founded in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 330,000 lives.