1. A .05% BAC Law is an effective solution to reduce drunk driving crashes because it deters people at all BAC levels from driving, including those at high BAC levels (National Transportation Safety Board), but even at .05% BAC, drivers have difficulty steering, reduced coordination, and declines in vision (CDC, NHTSA/USDOT).
2. Dozens of countries around the world have a .05% BAC Law or lower and, although other countries consume the same amount or more alcohol per person than the U.S., they suffer many fewer alcohol-related crashes and deaths each year because people are less likely to drive after they have been drinking (World Health Organization).
3. If every U.S. State had a .05% BAC Law, we would save the lives of 1,500 people every year (U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine).

We stand behind these facts and we stand with states introducing a lifesaving .05% BAC law. We know most Americans support a .05% BAC (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports 63%; Texas Medical Center Health Policy Institute reports 55%). This law does not necessarily increase arrests because it deters impaired drivers before they get behind the wheel, but we also understand that a .05% BAC Law is most effective when implemented with high visibility enforcement. A .05% BAC Law prevents crashes by reducing risky driving, not by reducing alcohol consumption.

Join us. We can make our roads safer for everyone by separating drinking and driving with a .05%

RID Joins Liam’s Life Foundation to Fight for .05 Laws

Liam’s Life Foundation, a California based advocacy group for victims of drunken driving has launched a social media campaign to help pass legislation for lowering the BAC level from .08 to .05 in states across the nation.

On September 3, 2016 – at only 15 months old – Liam was struck by a drunk driver in a crosswalk while on a walk with his aunt. Liam was found in his stroller, not breathing and without a pulse. On September 4, 2016, at approximately 2 PM, in a room full of close family and friends, Liam was pronounced brain dead.

Liam’s organs were donated, and his parents decided to start a foundation in his name.  Since then, they have been fighting for change – because drunk driving is a completely preventable problem, yet it still continues to happen.

Since 2013, RID has been working to lower the legal BAC(Blood Alcohol Content) to .05. So we are excited to announce our partnership with Liam’s Life Foundation, (laimslife.org) to advocate for .05 legislation across the country. Here’s how you can get involved in this movement to help pass .05 laws that will save lives that make the roads and highway we share safer for everyone:

• Ask your family, friends, and neighbors ( over age 18) to sign this petition at https://www.change.org/p/ca-assemblymember-lower-the-legal-bac-from-08-to-05-in-california-and-save-lives
•    If you or anyone you know has been impacted by drunk driving we would love to share a video of how drunk driving has affected your/their life.  The 1-2 minute video can be submitted to outreach@liamslife.org We want every story to be heard!
• Share our Liam’s Life posts/videos on your social media pages (FB, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn).
  Liam’s Life Social Media Accounts
             www.facebook.com/liamslife.org
      www.instagram.com/rememberliamslife
     www.twitter.com/rememberingliam
   https://www.linkedin.com/company/liams-life-foundation

Contributions to RID-USA go towards producing the RID newsletter, Producing anti-DWI programming for SACC TV, supporting policies that reduce DWI fatalities, monitoring court cases,  promoting victims advocacy and raising DUI awareness.

Looking Down the Road is a TV show that examines the intersection of the law and road safety. To view my interview with Albany Chief Vehicular Crime Unit, Mary Tanner-Richter click on the link directly below:

To view my interview with Schenectady DA Robert Carney below. To view my interview with Educator/ Entrepreneur, Phil Abitabile copy, paste the link below into your browser.

TAKING PART IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

RIDs partnership with LegiCrawler allows you to have access to up to date information on Legislation. If you live in New York, you access DWI legislation that is pending in your State. Click on the link below,   select New York state and click on the search button.  The pending bills are updated daily basis in real time. I have listed four steps below how citizens can use Legicrawler to part the legislative process.

HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Doris Aiken made a difference by simply taking action to get involved in fighting drunken driving. Now nearly 40 years later, there has been tremendous progressive thanks to her fortitude, yet there is still more work that needs to be done. Gone are the days when you could walk into an elected officials’ office to lobby a particular bill. Over the years, the layers of staff and bureaucracy have grown to insulate our elected leaders which have impeded the average citizen’s ability to communicate with our lawmakers.

REAL-TIME ALERTS

With technology, getting involved in the legislative process can be much easier for the average citizen as well as providing more transparency in the legislative process. The details of what’s actually in a pending bill are much more accessible to our members. Since 2013, RID has partnered with Leigcrawler, an online service provider. Here’s how it works: I have selected a list of terms and words related to drunken driving that is submitted into Legicrawler’s database. When those terms or words appear in a bill introduced by the Senate or the Assembly, a notification is sent to the RID website, which I then forward to our members.

RID has upgraded our platform with Legicrawler. Now when you click on the feed, it will take you to the NYS legislative webpage where you will can select the options below for the bill.

•  Summary   Actions  Committee Votes

•  Floor Votes  Memo  Text 
• LFIN   Chamber Video/Transcript

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BE INFORMED

A summary of the bill, its sponsors,  co-sponsors as well as the bill’s full text is included in the notification. I route out bills that aren’t of interest and pass on the ones that where an expressed interest has been indicated by our members.  The contact information of the bill’s sponsors are available so you are network and coordination a strategy to help get the bill passed.

It’s important to take the time to read the full text of the bill. Being well verse will allow you to be a more effective advocate. If you want to write a letter to the editor or make post on social media, you should be able to articulate the benefits of the bill as well as be prepared to address arguments against the bill.

FOLLOW THROUGH

Bills go through at least three processes before they can be voted on in their respected branch before it reaches the Governor’s desk. Whether a bill is introduced by the Senate or the Assembly, there has to be a comparable bill in the other branch. A heat index rates each bill from 1 to 10 to determine its status in becoming signed into law. Legicrawler sends RID a notification whenever a bill progresses further in the legislative process. Having this information is useful to plan the next action with the bill’s sponsor. The sponsor can better advise RID members who are up to speed on the latest legislative developments as the strategy changes as the bill moves forward.

ROLLING WITH THE TIMES AND CHANGES

Times have changed from the days when you could stroll into a politician’s office to lobby a bill, like Doris Aiken did back in the day. The elected offices have become political fortresses that don’t encourage the participation of it’s citizens. But thanks to the internet and Legicrawler, you have access to a platform where your voice can be heard, your effectiveness is maximized and you can truly make a difference. So if you live in California, Florida, Kentucky, New York, Tennessee or Vermont RID is ready to help you connect  to the legislative process. If you live outside of these states and want to get involved, please contact me to discuss your interests and join RID, the nation’s longest serving anti-drunk driving organization dedicated to fighting drunken driving.

Let’s Make a Difference!

William Aiken, Vice President                                                                 ridusa@verizon.net  (518) 372-0034

 Remove Intoxicated Driver to unveil plaque honoring Founder Doris Aiken

Remove Intoxicated Drivers in conjunction with Ellis Hospital will be holding a memorial ceremony in recognition of RID founder, Doris Aiken, who started the nation’s first anti-drunken driving organization in Schenectady, NY on February 15, 1978.  A plaque listing her accomplishments in the field of drunken driving will be unveiled at Ellis Hospital. Aiken spearheaded the first laws in New York State prohibiting DWI offenders from plea bargaining out of alcohol charges in 1982. She was instrumental in getting the first victim impact statements read at sentencing hearings. Later, on the national stage, she was instrumental in raising the drinking age to 21 and lowering the BAC level from .10 to .08.

In 2008, Aiken conceived the idea of the Safety Tree, where each red light bulb represents a life lost to a drunken driver. To conclude the ceremony a green bulb will be added to the tree to honor Aiken for all the lives she helped saved.

New York State Senator Jim Tedisco, Schenectady District Attorney, Robert Carney and Mayor Gary McCarthy are scheduled speakers. RID is extending invitations to victims who have lost family members to drunken drivers to speak as well. The event will be held in Schenectady at the Safety Tree at Ellis Hospital located by the Nott Street Bus Depot and is scheduled to begin at 10AM on September 25th, 2017. Hope to see you there!

                         GO FUND ME TO START RID DIGITAL LIBRARY

Doris Aiken was a shining star igniting hopeful energy among the victims of drunken driving crashes for decades. She was a courageous visionary who came up with new ideas to empower citizens to make the highways safer.

Her organization, “RID – USA” was born in 1978, inspiring victims to form local chapters and educate the public, court watch, lobby officials and hold victim impact panels, just to name some of the activities. Doris had a clarity, verve and personal charm, but most of all great integrity. RID-USA never accepted alcohol industry money and pursued the goals against drunken driving and teenage binge drinking without compromise.
She passed away this March but we do have a catalogue of VHS recordings from training conferences, lectures, talk shows and events documenting the movement of public resistance to the permissive culture around drunk driving crashes.
We now want to transfer those recordings to digital format and make video clips available on the RID website for everyone to access. In addition we hope to edit some of the body of work into a new documentary on the movement against drunken driving. With your help of any donation we can begin this project immediately since the stubborn problem of drunken driving has not gone away.

Doris knew that citizens have enormous power to make real change and she tirelessly shared her vision which still resonates today. If you would like to see her work carried, please consider a donation to this project. https://www.gofundme.com/memorial-library-citizen-activism

Thank you for your support to our Memorial video library!

Doris Aiken, 90 passed away at her home following a hospitalization. Doris will be remembered for being a trailblazing pioneer and activist, who was the forerunner in getting society to treat drunken driving seriously as a matter of life and death in this country.

She was born in 1926 to Adam Hastings Crouthamel and Eva Brown Crouthamel in Souderton, PA. She graduated from Souderton High School in 1944, and then she worked for an insurance company in Philadelphia for seven years. She moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA where she graduated in with a BA in sociology. While attending UCLA, she met the love of her life, William Aiken Sr. and on November 4, 1956 they married in Santa Monica, CA.

Doris got her start in activism as trainer of job skills for poor minority women working for the legendary former Congresswoman, Barbara Jordan in Houston, TX. She continued to pursue her interest in social issues working for the charity Save the Children in Westport, CT. In 1972, she moved to Niskayuna and ran as a Democrat for the 107^th Assembly District seat and lost in November of 1974.

While Doris was hosting a TV show for at Channel 6 WRGB, she learned of a local case where a teenaged brother and sister were killed by a drunken driver. This event inspired her to start RID (Remove Intoxicated Drivers in 1978. RID was the first anti-drunken driving organization in the nation. Through Doris’s appearances on Phil Donahue, 60 Minutes and the Today Show, RID quickly expanded to over a 160 chapters in 41 States.

In 1982, Doris successfully fought to pass the nation’s first law that prevented the common practice of DWI offenders’ plea bargaining out of alcohol charges. In 1984, she worked with Congressional Democrats and Republicans passing the nation’s 21 year old drinking age and later supported lowering the BAC limit from .10 to .08 in 2000.

Her success came from word of mouth before the age of the internet or social media. Her work won citizen Awards from Presidents Reagan and George H W Bush. In 1997 in Annecy, France, ICDATS (The International Council on Drugs, Alcohol and Traffic Safety) presented her with the Widmark Award, an international recognition of citizens who have achieved success in improving the areas concerning drugs, alcohol and traffic safety.

In 1987, Doris published a book, “The Media Game and how to play it”, a practical guide on crafting your message and how prepare to deal with the media. She later published her memoir “My Life as a Pit Bull: Collaring the Drunken Driver”. In 2008, UCLA recognized Doris with a Lifetime Community Service Award for her work with RID.

Doris was an inspiration to many, giving them a blueprint how to get involved in the issue of drunken driving. She never allowed disappointments or setbacks deter her focus of getting victims’ families justice. She was quick to praise others and give credit where credit was due. Early on in RID, she took on powerful entities such as the alcohol industry and the defense lawyers. Her criticism of alcohol advertising led to RID being banned by the national media, however, thousands were motivated to join RID as a result.

She was an excellent cook with a quick wit. An avid reader, she could engage in politics and culture with anyone. Her infectious smile lit up the room. She adored her 150 lb St. Bernard mascot, Gracie. She truly cared about people and fought vigorously to raise awareness on the importance of driving sober as well as the dangers of alcohol poisoning.

Few would have predicted that Doris who came from such humble beginnings would have a profound impact on such a stubborn problem. Her tough tactics saved thousands of lives. She deserves a lot of credit for changing how society views drunk driving. No longer is it considered to be an accident. It’s rightfully viewed as a crime, thanks in large part to her committed efforts. Doris Aiken was someone who truly made a difference. She will be missed by many who had the pleasure of knowing her. Her children, Jane and William will continue RID’s legacy of making our roads and highways safer for everyone.

Doris was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Jean Stewart and husband, William Aiken Sr. who passed away in 2004. She is survived by her children, Jane, William and Raya Buckley (Tom), her grandchildren, John and Charlotte Buckley, her Brother Dale Crouthamel (Gladys) of Telford, PA along with many nieces and nephews.

The Aiken family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of doctors, nurses and techs at Ellis Hospital who made it possible for Doris to come home to be surrounded by friends and family in her final days. And a heart-felt appreciation to Jackie Donegan, who brought grace, compassion and comfort when it was needed most.

The Aiken Family would like to thank all those who sent cards and memorial acknowledgments in honor of Doris. Your heart-felt condolences are greatly appreciated.

“Remove Intoxicated Drivers”  – National Headquarters

The original Anti-DWI National Organization in the United States, founded in 1978 by Doris Aiken.

Doris began the battle against drunken driving when she learned of the deaths of Karen(17) and Timothy(19) Morris, who were killed by an intoxicated 22-year-old driver on December 4,1977. They were the Morris’s only children. RID relies on volunteer citizen activists, with Chapters or coordinators in 42 states. RID was given an “A” rating among non-profit organizations by the “Independent Charities of America”. Only 2000 organizations out of 1 Million reviewed receive this Award.

RID stands alone in spending 80% of funding on programs, only 20% on administration. No professional fundraisers are used. Funds raised by RID Chapters are used solely for programs in their local communities. RID-USA  does not receive funds from the Alcohol Industry