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Drinking and Driving in Virginia

In 2008 alone in the state of Virginia there were approximately 32,000 DUI convictions. In the same year there were 354 fatalities from automobile accidents that were alcohol-related. Of college students from the ages of 18 to 24, 2.1 million drive under the influence each year. As many as 46 percent of the 4,553 people killed in 2001 by automobile crashes involving college students from 18 to 24 were persons other than the drinking driver.*

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) is an organization in Virginia that was formed in hopes of ending drinking and driving. Their mission statement is "to stop drunk driving, support victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking." Their Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving started in November 2006 and includes the following; high-visibility law enforcement (i.e. sobriety checkpoints), ignition interlock (devices for convicted drunk drivers), advanced vehicle technologies that will be designed to prevent drunk driving, and public support.**

Drunk driving has obviously been an ongoing issue and will most likely continue as an issue in years to come. However, it is something that needs to be decreased fast in order to save lives.


 * Source: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
 * Source: www.Maddva.org