MADD Georgia asks lawmakers to put a lock on drunk driving
Convicted Georgia Drunk Drivers Would Need To Blow Before They Go

ATLANTA (February 5, 2010) — Today at the Georgia State Capitol, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) urged support of lifesaving anti drunk driving legislation in Georgia that would require all first time convicted drunk drivers to use an ignition interlock. 

“The elimination of drunk driving in Georgia is possible,” said Jason Anavitarte, Public Policy Liaison of MADD Georgia. “The first step to preventing deaths and injuries due to drunk driving is by requiring ignition interlocks for convicted drunk drivers. MADD appreciates the interest of Rep. Tom Knox in pursuing interlock legislation which will help save lives and end Georgia’s subsidy of drunk driving.”

In 2008, 416 people were killed in Georgia in drunk driving crashes. From 1998 to 2008, 4,482 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in Georgia. These drunk driving deaths carry an economic cost to the state and Georgia residents is conservatively estimated at $5 billion. 

“Drunk drivers drive drunk because they can. Georgia chooses its level of drunk driving. MADD advocates for ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers because doing so will save lives” said Ronda Phillips, victim and volunteer with MADD Georgia.

Interlocks have been proven to reduce repeat drunk driving offenses by an average of 64 percent. Currently, 12 states require ignition interlocks for all first time convicted drunk drivers. Georgia currently requires ignition interlocks for repeat convicted drunk drivers. 

“Drunk driving remains a violent crime and interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers can help prevent and deter drunk driving,” Anavitarte added. Due to a similar law enacted in both New Mexico and Arizona, those states have seen drunk driving fatalities decrease by 35 and 33 percent respectively.