As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, Chuck Hurley, the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, was nominated by President Obama to head the National Highway Traffic Administration. See Ex-CEO of MADD to Set Vehicle Safety Standards. And, along with other MADD objectives, part of Hurley’s agenda inevitably would be to require ignition interlock devices as standard equipment in all cars. See New MADD Goal: All Cars Equipped with Breathalyzers. Not coincidentally, auto manufacturers who will profit are the biggest contributors to MADD’s $52 million average annual income. See Why is MADD Pushing Ignition Interlock Devices?
Since my postings, some of the media has been less than enthusiastic about placing a single-issue MADD zealot in charge of overseeing vehicle and traffic safety regulation. See, for example, Reaction to CEO of MADD Heading Federal Agency.
In yesterday’s news:
Obama Pick for Highway Safety Post Withdraws
Washington, D.C. May 12 — A top official with Mothers Against Drunk Driving who was chosen to oversee a federal highway safety agency has withdrawn his name for the post, the White House said Tuesday.
The Obama administration said in April it intended to nominate Chuck Hurley to become the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Hurley, who was not formally nominated, is a longtime safety advocate and has served as MADD’s chief executive officer since 2005.
Some environmental groups had questioned Hurley’s commitment to tougher fuel efficiency requirements and his ties to automakers. MADD has received funding from several auto companies, including General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co. and others.
The federal agency oversees highway safety programs and sets fuel efficiency and safety requirements for car companies.
At MADD, Hurley has pushed states to adopt tougher drunken driving laws and require first-time offenders to use ignition interlock devices on their cars. The devices require drivers to blow into an instrument that measures alcohol and prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver’s blood alcohol concentration exceeds a certain level…
Sanity finally trumps MADDness.
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