Lawler Presses For Action on HALT Drunk Driving Law as MADD Celebrates 45 Years of Advocacy

Washington, D.C. - 9/18/25… Last week, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Duffy urging swift implementation of the HALT Drunk Driving Law. The letter coincides with the 45th anniversary of the founding of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) on September 9th and 10th. MADD is the nation's leading organization dedicated to ending impaired driving and supporting victims and survivors.

The HALT Drunk Driving Law requires new motor vehicles to be equipped with advanced anti-drunk driving technology that prevents a car from operating if the driver is illegally impaired. Advocates estimate that fully implementing this law will save more than 10,000 lives and prevent nearly 400,000 serious injuries every year.

"In 2023, 12,429 people lost their lives in drunk driving crashes in the United States. This tragedy occurs, on average, once every 42 minutes, accounting for nearly one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities in the country. Without significant changes, thousands more Americans will tragically lose their lives to this crime," wrote the lawmaker.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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The full letter can be found HERE.