MADD at GM....( GM and MADD Team UP)

In the average owner's manual, GM has three pages on drinking and driving. There is a total of three words on speeding. (The high-powered Corvette manual dropped the three words on speed!)

On the surface, it seems strange that General Motors (GM), creator of three of what Consumer Reports calls the “Four Deadliest Cars of All Time,” would team up with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a traffic safety organization. But GM has an ulterior motive—by allying itself with MADD, GM believes it will deflect attention from its own safety record and its contributions to highway fatalities. MADD, in turn, is happy to use GM's money and corporate clout to push its own agenda. And there is substantial evidence that this partnership is paying off for both sides. (more information)

GM has become a vocal opponent of any drinking before driving. They oppose not just drunk driving, but any drinking at all—a beer at the ball game, a glass of wine over dinner, or a cocktail while out with friends or family. The reason: GM has cut a deal with MADD to target people who drink responsibly before driving—people like you.

Since 1997, GM has donated over $3.5 million to MADD—money that has helped fund a campaign to promote roadblocks (more information). GM has also sponsored events and surveys to support MADD’s current goal: a massive scare campaign designed to bully responsible adults into never drinking—no matter how responsibly—before driving.

Everyone who has a beer after work before heading home and every couple who shares a bottle of wine over dinner is considered, by MADD, to be part of the "impaired driver problem.” MADD has publicly condemned any drinking before driving. Concerned? Then you need to think twice before buying your next car or truck. After all, would you support a company that uses your money to have you arrested?

There are two main causes for car accidents: driver error and equipment malfunction. GM is naturally going out of its way to emphasize the dangers of driver error—in particular, drunk driving. And MADD has been a crucial element in this strategy.

Although MADD is accepting big money from Big Auto (GM gave almost $700,000 in 2001- 2002 alone), the relationship runs much deeper. Harry Pearce, chairman of Hughes Electronics (a subsidiary of GM), has been a member of MADD's National Advisory Board since 2001. At a speech celebrating MADD's 20th anniversary, then-GM Vice Chairman Pearce discussed GM's five-year, $2.5 million "corporate partnership" with MADD. "And if I'm still around," he said, "that two and a half million will grow." Within a year, he was appointed to MADD's National Advisory Board.

Former GM counsel Charles Babcock served as MADD's national chairman from 1996 to 1998, showcasing the old adage that money buys a seat at the table. In this case, at the head of the table.

Lacking the political capital to push for a lower drunk driving arrest threshold, MADD and other neo-prohibitionists are circumventing the legislative process and investing millions of dollars in PR campaigns designed to frighten responsible adults out of enjoying a cold beer, a glass of wine, or a cocktail outside the home.

Roadblocks target social drinkers, while doing little to catch drunk drivers. MADD acknowledges this prohibitionist agenda on its website, which states that "If the public is aware the police will be conducting checkpoints ... they drink less."

Roadblocks are worthless as enforcement mechanisms; their sole use is as a public relations tool. In fact, roadblocks routinely fall below the 0.5% arrest rate the U.S. Supreme Court deemed was necessary to balance the invasion of privacy. Roadblocks do not even target the source of the problem—high-BAC drivers and repeat offenders—but instead go after responsible drinkers, who actually respond to these scare campaigns.

These scare campaigns—which are admittedly not about catching drunk drivers—also divert millions of dollars away from necessary law enforcement efforts every year.

GM and MADD have formed a mutually profitable relationship: in return for GM's financial support, MADD stays conveniently silent on traffic safety issues outside of "impaired driving." GM, meanwhile, is vociferous in its opposition to any drinking before driving, buying itself immunity from MADD's potential criticism for encouraging speeding and distracted driving. Here are a few examples of the GM-MADD relationship at work:

• In 1998, GM attorney Charles Babcock argued against the installation of expensive sensor technology that could identify a drunk driver by causing a vehicle to flash its lights and sound its horn. Babcock claimed the sensors sometimes confused the driving patterns of an intoxicated person with the driving patterns of elderly drivers. His real concern was that the safety device increased the price of the car. MADD's reaction? Stunning silence. At the time, Babcock was serving as MADD's national chairman!

• Nor was MADD heard from in 2000, when GM helped to block an amendment offered by U.S. Sen. John McCain that would impose criminal penalties, including prison time, on car company executives. Penalties kicked in for knowingly authorizing faulty vehicles or equipment that killed American consumers. This debate was part of the same transportation spending bill that adopted MADD-supported drunk driving measures, which have had no discernable effect on alcohol-related fatalities. (Ironically, MADD has subsequently complained that their new rules are apparently not working and we need yet more regulation.) MADD celebrated the part of the legislation that would prove worthless and allowed GM to quietly bury the part that might have saved lives—once again letting GM's bottom line win out over traffic safety.

• GM also benefits from MADD's support with regard to cell phone use. Even though published studies indicate cell phone use is more dangerous than moderate drinking and driving, MADD is as silent as a disconnected phone line. When asked about the number of highway fatalities caused by cell phones as compared to those caused by drunk driving, MADD lobbyist Tom Howarth publicly stated, "I have absolutely no idea, nor do I care." Apparently alcohol-related highway fatalities are more significant than other fatalities.

Speeding was a factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes in 2002, with almost 14,000 lives lost—about 20 percent more than the number of tested drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that speed-related crashes cost over $40 billion each year in the U.S.

Although GM's "Responsible Product Use: Safe Driving" website discusses seatbelt use, drunken driving, and distracted drivers, there is nothing on speed. Its "Traffic Safety" webpage also ignores speeding, instead focusing on drunk and young drivers.

And while GM has three pages on the dangers of drinking and driving in its owner's manuals, the closest you'll come to "Speeding" in the index is "Speedometer."

In fact, GM openly advocates speed. Its summer 2003 marketing campaign is called "Summerdrive 2 the max," with a commercial encouraging viewers to "Take it 2 the limit," and "Put the pedal 2 the metal."

The ad copy promoting the new ZO6 Corvette is equally speed-focused, calling it the "quickest, most agile … ever," and bragging that the car "accelerates 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds, [and] handles 1 g of lateral acceleration." GM doesn't flinch at using the macabre phrase "new level of overkill" to hawk the Z06. The company even boasts that it has decreased the windshield weight by two pounds to produce a speed-enhancing extra. The small print at the bottom exhorts, "Buckle up, America." Good advice if you're in this road rocket, capable of clocking 170 mph.

This indifference to the traffic safety implications of its high-speed vehicles is particularly troubling since GM has an appalling safety record: According to Consumer Reports, GM made three of the "Four Deadliest Cars of All Time"—Corvettes, Camaros, and Firebirds. And what made these cars so deadly? Their speed. In fact, a 1997 insurance industry study found that the Corvette's death rate was 10 to 20 times that of the safest car models.

GM is pushing this pursuit of speed still further with its latest concept car, the Cadillac Sixteen—so named for its 16-cylinder, 1,000 horsepower engine! GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz stated that it "is just a concept." Maximum horsepower will probably remain "somewhere south of 700." (For comparison, a new Ferrari Maranello does 200 miles per hour with 515 horsepower. A typical sedan has 100 to 200 horsepower.)

GM's support for roadblocks to catch social drinkers is particularly hypocritical since GM is selling its axled lightning bolts to anyone who can get financing, regardless of past driving records—even if they're scarred with multiple speeding arrests (or DUI convictions).

MADD wants "frequent, highly visible, highly publicized sobriety checkpoints across the country"—and they have asked Congress for hundreds of millions of dollars to establish these police roadblocks.

MADD is using GM money and influence to pass laws that target responsible social drinkers.

They have publicly stated that "the most effective way to deal with" people who drink anything prior to driving is to "arrest them." Their strategy: nationwide roadblocks.

When you buy a GM car or truck, you are supporting MADD's efforts to harass and possibly arrest you, your friends, and your neighbors—anybody who has a beer, a cocktail, or a glass of wine before driving home.

Went out to watch the Packers game Sun. And this sight was on the bar coasters.

MAD has been taken over by the left. They even kicked out the mother who founded MAD

In fact, a 1997 insurance industry study found that the Corvette's death rate was 10 to 20 times that of the safest car models.

um, sorry, corvette is a safe car. bushmaster is a safe rifle. stupid people exist. there is being a connection drawn that does not hold water here.

um, sorry, corvette is a safe car. bushmaster is a safe rifle. stupid people exist. there is being a connection drawn that does not hold water here.

My Corvette's a safe car. Of course, I don't drink and drive or even speed. I actually get a kick out of tooling along at the speed limit in the "slow" lane and watching the maniacs in their eggbeaters zoom by me.

Having had a CHEVette in the past, I'll take the CORVette for safety any day.

Come on, you know I only drink beer when I'm parked for the day. Ask my brother Pete-R-Bilt. Tis a fact.

And as far as liquor, I only drink that during the holidays when the dogs have an empty space outside. I don't have a whiskey problem (usually on New Years when Pete shows up with the crown royal). My wife has a me drinking whiskey problem :o)

Do not drink and drive. or drink and shoot. (or drive and shoot.)

you must know your limitations. stupidity hurts. and it should.

Pete accuses me of being a "zero to speed limit in 4 seconds" vette driver. I think he's got that exactly right.

stay safe!!

It seems that MADD fell victim to extremism, like so many other worthy causes. A couple of examples,the once noble civil rights movement has now degenerated into affirmative action and political correctness. Enviornmantalism was once once a well-meaning sensible approach toward acheiving clean air and water, now we have tree hugging nutjobs spiking trees and torching SUV dealerships, not to mention a large part of s. Cal gone up in flames thanks in part to the EPA pandering to these groups. This is why IMHO that too much of a good thing results in oftentimes tragic consequences. As far as Corvettes being death traps any vehicle whether it's a Yugo or an Abrams tank , in the final analysis is only as safe as the nut behind the steering wheel. I got a 1964 Chevy Impala,like other cars built back then,it does not have air bags, side impact beams, crumple zones or anti-lock brakes(just the prehistoric drum type, non-power assist at that!). The only "safety features" are seat belts and pwr steering, and even those items were options in 64. What's ironic, and I'm sure accident stats will bear this out, the safest drivers on the road are antique car owners. Maybe what's needed is more emphasis on the competence of the motorists.

If you look at the statistics, drunk drivers kill, by far, the most people. Equipment malfunctions and speeding are way, way down on the list. Fatality rates actually went down when the national speed limits were lifted. Your story just doesn't wash. Stay away from my town when you drink and drive.

Do not drink and drive. or drink and shoot.

Or drink and post. I learned that lesson about three years ago right after I signed in here. It was my first and last time. lol

(or drive and shoot.)

What about surf and shoot? Ever seen Top Secret?

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