What if your car could stop you from making the worst decision of your life—before it happens?
That’s the vision behind the HALT Act and the work of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Their goal: make in-vehicle technology that prevents impaired driving as standard and accepted as airbags and seatbelts.
With more than two decades in advocacy, MADD’s Chief Government Affairs Officer Stephanie Manning brings a powerful perspective rooted in the stories of victims and survivors. “I carry their voices with me into every meeting,” she says. And those stories are why she believes so deeply in prevention—not just punishment.
While MADD helped shift public attitudes in the 1980s, the work is far from over. Impaired driving deaths are up 33% since 2019, fueled by poly-substance use, prescription drugs, and ongoing gaps in enforcement. Alcohol remains the top factor in fatal crashes, and people continue to get behind the wheel impaired.
MADD’s solution: technology that quietly stops the crime before it starts.
The HALT Act calls for passive, privacy-first systems—built into every new car—that prevent an intoxicated driver from starting the vehicle. “This is the next seatbelt,” Manning says. “And the only thing that saves more lives is wearing one.”
She’s quick to clarify: it’s not about surveillance or punishment. Drivers aren’t tracked. Law enforcement isn’t notified. It’s about preventing tragedy in the moment—and making it a standard safety feature for everyone on the road.
Watch the full interview to learn how policy, technology, and a growing movement of advocates are working to eliminate impaired driving—one vehicle at a time.