Reps. Mann, Pappas Reintroduce Legislation to Reduce Intoxicated Driving

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) reintroduced the End Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Act. The bipartisan legislation would create a national ignition interlock standard by encouraging states to adopt a mandatory first-time ignition interlock law, which helps reduce recidivism and improve road safety by ensuring fewer drunk drivers are on the road. Twenty-five states, including Kansas, already meet the standards outlined in the bill. 

“The United States loses an average of 37 Americans each day to intoxicated driving,” said Rep. Mann. “By requiring intoxicated driving offenders to use an ignition interlock device for six months after their first offense, we reduce the likelihoods of individuals becoming repeat offenders. Statistics show this prevention practice reduces recidivism by as much as 70% among first-time, repeat, and high-risk offenders. Implementing this standard nationwide will make America’s roads safer while protecting the lives of innocent Americans from harm.”

“Every life lost to impaired driving is a tragedy and a preventable death. We must better address drunk driving and strengthen efforts to prevent repeated offenses,” said Congressman Pappas. “New Hampshire and others are leading the way with mandatory first-time offender ignition interlock laws which reduces repeated drunk driving. This bipartisan legislation would help create a national ignition interlock standard to safeguard our roadways across the nation. I’ll keep working to pass this bill to make roads safer for drivers, passengers, and everyone on them.”  

The End DWI Act is supported by the Safety and Advocacy for Empowerment (SAFE) Coalition, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the National Safety Council, Students Against Destructive Decisions, and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

“With more than 40,000 people dying each year on our nation’s roadways – one-third due to drunk driving, it is time for a swift nationwide response to curb this epidemic of death and destruction. We call on Congress to enact the End DWI Act to encourage each state to require all drunk driving offenders to install state of the art ignition interlock devices to prevent repeat offenses. This national legislation follows the precedent set by President Reagan and a bipartisan Congress when they uniformly raised the minimum drinking age to 21 and erased blood borders between the states — a law that saves countless lives every year. This simple yet effective technology will prevent tragic crashes, protect innocent lives, and keep families whole across our nation.” -Brandy Nannini, Board Member, SAFE coalition.

“Alcohol impairment causes far too many deaths on our roadways. We need to use all available evidence-based policy measures, including ignition interlocks, to end alcohol-impaired driving and save lives. NSC enthusiastically supports this legislation and thanks Reps. Mann and Pappas for their leadership on this vital effort.” - Lorraine Martin, President and CEO, National Safety Council.

“Drunk driving is a nationwide public health and safety crisis that touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every year,” said MADD CEO Stacey D. Stewart. “Incentivizing all 50 states to require ignition interlocks for every convicted drunk driver is a commonsense approach to preventing further heartbreak caused by this preventable crime. Thank you Representative Mann and Representative Pappas for your commitment to ending drunk driving.” 

“Alcohol-impaired driving remains one of the deadliest and most preventable threats on our roadways, resulting in nearly one-third of all motor vehicle crash deaths," said Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. "We have solutions to prevent this devastation, including requiring the installation of ignition interlock devices (IIDs) for all individuals convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI). Despite decades of incentives, too many states still don’t require this lifesaving technology. The End DWI Act aims to close these gaps in state laws. We thank Reps. Tracey Mann (R-KS) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) for their bipartisan leadership and urge Congress to act without delay.” 

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