More than just numbers
We are real people with stories and lives impacted by crashes that are 100% preventable.
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Where it all began
Where it all began
On May 3, 1980, 13-year-old Cari Lightner was walking to a church carnival in Fair Oaks, California when she was struck and killed by a repeat drunk driver — a man who had just been released from jail two days earlier. Cari’s death shattered her family and exposed the devastating toll of impaired driving. Her mother, Candace Lightner, refused to let her daughter's story end there. Fueled by grief and determination, Candace carried Cari’s photo with her as she fought to change laws, raise awareness, and give a voice to victims everywhere.
She was soon joined by Cindi Lamb, another mother whose infant daughter, Laura, had become the nation’s youngest quadriplegic after being hit by a drunk driver. Together, with the strength of many grieving families, they transformed personal tragedy into national action.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was born from their courage, beginning with a mission:
“To aid the victims of crimes performed by individuals driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to aid the families of such victims and to increase public awareness of the problem of drinking and drugged driving.”
Today, their legacy lives on — putting faces to the statistics and turning heartbreak into lasting change.
Michelle Ramsey Hawkins: A Mother Honoring Khaiden and Samuel:
Two drunk drivers. One tragic night. A mother’s worst nightmare. On April 10, 2016, a preventable chain of events robbed Kayla of her two young sons, Khaiden and Samuel. One reckless driver’s debris set the stage; another, nearly three times over the legal limit, ignored safety warnings and plowed into her family. In an instant, her boys were gone. Yet, through unimaginable grief, she chose survival over victimhood. She walked across the stage for her master’s degree, testified before Congress, and now fights to end drunk driving.
Tragedy to Triumph: Erin Rollins
At 29, Erin Rollins’ life was shattered when a wrong-way drunk driver hit her head-on, leaving her with devastating injuries and a long road to recovery. She lost her independence, her job, and even her sense of self—but not her faith. Against all odds, she fought back, learned to walk again, and found love in the process. Though her offender served just 18 months, Erin carries a lifelong sentence. Her story is one of resilience, forgiveness, and the power of never giving up.
A life Stolen: The Loss Of Christopher Croley
On the eve of his 14th birthday, Christopher Croley’s life was cut short by a drunk driver. A kind-hearted boy with endless possibilities, he never got the chance to live his dreams. His family received a life sentence of grief—one reckless choice changed everything.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is working every day to ensure a safer future without victims. These maps display our activity in regions with impaired driving fatalities. Together, we can bring these numbers down and save lives!
Alcohol-involved fatal crashes from January 2020 through March 2025. This map and data can be found on the TIMS Berkeley Website.
MADD teen safety activities from January 2020 through March 2025 to counter drunk and impaired driving casualties. This map and data can be found on the TIMS Berkeley Website.
MADD Cares
We provide vital services at no cost to impaired driving victims, survivors, and their loved ones through emotional support, guidance, and information about the criminal and civil justice process. These resources include:
Court accompaniment and advocacy services
Information about victims’ rights and education on topics related to victimization
Assistance finding national and local financial resources
Direct and indirect emotional support options, including one-on-one emotional support, peer support groups, and referrals for therapy
Lives Impacted
Lives Impacted
1000+
Every day, 37 people are killed and 1,075 people are injured in preventable drunk driving crashes in the U.S.
7X
Kids who start drinking young are 7 times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash according to underage drinking statistics.
10,000+
Anti-drunk driving technology, made possible through the HALT Act, is expected to save 10,000 lives per year.
Additional Resources & Information:
Funding creates change! Check out this impact map and learn how federal grants make a difference in public safety.
Funding creates change! Check out this impact map and learn how federal grants make a difference in public safety.
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