Proposition 22 Will Ensure More Rideshare Drivers Stay on the Road, Reducing Drunk and Drugged Driving, and Saving Lives

SACRAMENTO — Today, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a force for positive change in transportation safety for the last 40 years, working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking, announced its endorsement for Proposition 22. Passing Prop 22 will reduce crashes, injuries, and, ultimately, deaths on California’s roads. If Prop 22 does not pass, hundreds of thousands of app-based drivers who perform a life-saving service would be taken off the road in places where they are needed most. The loss of safe, reliable, convenient and affordable rideshare services would undo much of the progress MADD has achieved over the past 40 years in reducing drunk and drugged driving and saving lives.

“Mothers Against Drunk Driving supports Proposition 22 because it will save lives. Rideshare services help keep drunk and drug-impaired drivers off of our roads by providing a safe, reliable, convenient and affordable alternative to driving,” said MADD National President Helen Witty, whose 16-year-old daughter Helen Marie was killed by a drunk and marijuana-impaired driver on June 1, 2000.

Simultaneously, the Yes on 22 campaign released a new Yes on 22 campaign ad featuring MADD. “Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants everyone to make it home safely. App-based rideshare plays a vital role. That’s why Mothers Against Drunk Driving supports Proposition 22. Prop 22 saves lives by preserving access to rideshare services across California, helping keep drunk and drugged drivers off our roads.”

MADD joins more than 100 social justice organizations, public safety advocates, and business groups and more than 100,000 app-based drivers in actively supporting the ballot measure.

Rideshare is a safe, reliable, convenient and affordable way to prevent people from getting behind the wheel impaired. DUIs have plummeted by roughly one-third since app-based rideshare services came to California. Prop 22 will protect the availability, accessibility, and affordability of app-based rideshare and delivery services that millions of Californians use daily. A NHTSA analysis demonstrates that when quality of life valuations are considered, the total value of societal harm from motor vehicle crashes in 2010 was $836 billion.

About Proposition 22

Proposition 22 would ensure driver flexibility, by protecting the ability of California’s one million app-based drivers to choose to work as independent contractors while providing new earning guarantees and benefits. These include:

• Prop 22 improves the quality of app-based work by requiring app-based platforms to provide drivers:
  • Guaranteed minimum earnings (120% of California minimum wage), including compensation toward expenses
  • Funding for new health benefits for drivers who work at least 15 hours a week
  • Occupational accident insurance to cover injuries and illnesses on the job
  • Protection against discrimination and sexual harassment
• Prop 22 implements strong new public safety protections:
  • Recurring background checks of drivers
  • Mandatory new safety courses for drivers
  • Zero tolerance for alcohol and drug offenses
  • Making it a crime to impersonate a driver

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped save more than 390,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435). Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD (877-275-6233).