Enact a more effective drunk driving prevention law

For years, those of us at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) South Carolina and other traffic safety partners have wondered what it will take for the legislature to finally act and take our DUI laws from the dark ages to a step or two toward the light. Perhaps we had to find out the hard way because in the immediate aftermath of some of the most shocking drunk driving fatality data we’ve ever seen, life-saving DUI reform has finally approached the finish line – though we are not there yet.
 
At MADD, we hear the heartbreaking stories every day as we meet new families whose lives have been torn apart by the violent, traumatic crime of drunk and drugged driving. We don’t need statistics to know how much our state suffers from these preventable tragedies. However, numbers tell a story also, especially for those not as intimately connected with the issue.
 
In April, the federal government released the final 2021 data for drunk driving deaths nationally and in South Carolina. It was stunning to learn that in just two years, South Carolina had a 45% increase in those fatalities, from 276 to 401, now well more than one a day.
 
These figures now put South Carolina as the 8th highest state for total drunk driving deaths, which is completely unacceptable for a state that is 23rd in population. When looking at drunk driving fatalities divided by vehicle miles traveled, only Montana was worse.  
 
It’s hard to imagine that a state with such dismal statistics for decades could get even worse and so fast.
 
What adds to our frustrations and why we’re so “mad” is that solutions have always been within our grasp. We’ve only lacked the will of lawmakers to put them into place.  
 
For five years now, MADD, alongside so many victims and survivors personally impacted, have been pushing for a strengthening of the state law known as Emma’s Law. Emma’s Law sets forth how our state uses ignition interlock devices (IIDs) – in-car breathalyzers that won’t allow the car to start if the driver has detectable levels of alcohol.  
 
The research is clear that the states that use IIDs the most see the greatest declines in drunk driving deaths, but South Carolina only applies them to repeat offenders or first-time offenders when their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is exceptionally high. Year after year, we have fallen short in our efforts, though the Senate passed the bill three times – each time with just one “no” vote.
 
This year, we are encouraged that the House has finally taken action, and the bill, S.36, has made it through the committee process and can be taken up by the full House. However, the end of the 2023 session is May 11, and we hope we do not have to wait until 2024 for passage. 
 
Truly, lives are on the line each year we fail to pass a bill like S.36 that will require all convicted DUI offenders, regardless of BAC, to have an IID for some period of time. Over the years, these devices have blocked more than four million drunk driving trips in our country, and no state needs more future trips to be prevented than we do.
 
We call upon the House to complete its work this year and perhaps consider returning the bill more to the version that passed the Senate that was stronger and would save more lives. South Carolina needs it and deserves it. We’ve waited too long, and we have the tears on our shoulders to prove it.
 

Daniel Island Publishing

225 Seven Farms Drive
Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
Fax Number: 843-856-8555

 

Breaking News Alerts

To sign up for breaking news email alerts, Click on the email address below and put "email alerts" in the subject line: sdetar@thedanielislandnews.com

Comment Here