The RID-USA Blog by Doris Aiken

The Los Angeles Angel Pitcher Nick Ardenhart and two friends are now with the angels forever thanks to a repeat DWI offender. This was no accident. It was murder.

When will innocent people be protected against repeat scofflaws who kill and maim(greater than 13,000 last year).

When the law will demand that all repeat offenders, as well as, those who drive unlicensed, must have an ignition interlock device(IID) installed in his/her car. The driver has to breath into the IID before starting the car. Any alcohol greater than .02 will kill the ignition. A simple device like this could have saved three lives, the injury of a 4th person and the anguish and trauma of the Ardenhart family. Why isn’t this law for the IID in place in California?

Yo! I just returned from Nashville, TN, staffing the RID-USA booth at the 2009 Lifesavers’ Conference (1900 attendees from every State including 8 RIDders from NH,KY, TN and NY ) ca,e by the booth. I got the hard facts on % of youths who committed suicide connected to alcohol, no.s of the drop in DWI deaths State by State, a new commitment to share info with MADD on pending legislative goals, and the strong motivation to continue our efforts to deter underage drinking. (Three teen suicides/attempts at suicides occurred recently in my local high school ). I will make the connection between alcohol overdose and underage bingeing as a Speaker at the next Lifesavers Conferencein Philadelphia 4-11-2010.
Detailson alcohol-related unexpected teen deaths and the Conference facts will appear on the upcoming Spring RID newsletter. Blog me back if you want a copy or if you want to join RID at $20.
Doris Aiken