Perceived effectiveness of drinking--driving countermeasures: an evaluation of MADD

Drunken driving has become widely recognized as a serious social problem. In recent years, several citizen activist groups have emerged to combat this problem. The leadership of 212 chapters of an organization called Mothers Against Drunk Driving was surveyed to obtain data on chapter emphasis, satisfaction, future involvement and perception of most effective countermeasures. On measures of perceived effectiveness of various countermeasures, chapter leaders ranked strong legal penalties and strict enforcement of driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws as most effective compared to prevention and treatment measures. Findings suggest a shift in emphasis toward a more criminal justice orientation.