ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Right to Be MADD

The Orange County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving opened a new office in Orange this week with some gratifying news: Drunk-driving injuries and deaths have gone down consistently and dramatically over the past five years. Obviously, something is working, and MADD can take part of the credit.

In 1987, there were 166 traffic deaths in Orange County in which alcohol was a factor, according to the California Highway Patrol; last year, there were only 89. Injuries also declined, from 5,815 to 3,993. Although other California counties also experienced reductions in either injuries or deaths, only Orange County has had declines in both categories every year since 1987.

To what can this be attributed?

MADD Orange County Executive Director Janet Cater cites many other programs such as DARE and Drug Abuse Is Life Abuse. But MADD has done its share, including conducting its “Silver Prom” program at high schools in the spring.

In all, 25,000 students attended assemblies aimed at curbing drinking on prom and graduation nights. Students told stories of some of those in Orange County who had died because of drunk drivers. The result: Several schools reported that there was less drinking at prom time this year.

Of course, 89 drunk-driving deaths is still a tragic number. Real success would be to bring that number to zero.

Until that day, news of declining death and injury rates will help renew the commitment to drunk-driving programs that work.