Tom Udall

It seems to me that we built this very, very war-heavy economy within Afghanistan if they're only generating a very small part.

One of the best things, I think, we could do is to enact ROADS SAFE and ignition interlock laws on a nationwide basis.

Thank you, both of you, very much for your testimony.

Thank you for your continued leadership on drunk driving prevention, particularly on the advanced alcohol detection research program.

Your ROADS SAFE legislation, which would provide increased long-term funding for DADSS, is essential for the long-term success of this research program.

It is unacceptable to drop from a level of 605 to 490. I mean, the problem is still out there, and it needs to be tackled.

I think the budget and all the issues that have happened, the economy, have taken its toll, not only on law enforcement.

Every victim of drunk driving you see is completely--it is a completely preventable crash.

The ROADS SAFE Act that you have co-sponsored will support the development of passive in-vehicle alcohol detection systems is one such innovative strategy.

Many of New Mexico's successes today are due to Senator Udall's efforts while serving as Attorney General of New Mexico and his leadership on drunk driving is to be commended.

Thanks to the leadership of people like Senator Udall, New Mexico has turned a corner.

I thank Senator Tom Udall, who has been a steadfast supporter of MADD's efforts to eliminate drunk driving.

Would you agree it's important to maintain funding levels in the next surface transportation reauthorization to help States combat drunk driving?

How critical was that funding to advance the Department of Transportation's efforts?

Is that correct? Am I looking at that in the right way? And do those numbers make sense to you?

The average drunk driver has driven drunk 87 times before the first arrest.

We cannot let fall off.

I believe--truly believe that the DADSS program would address this and save lives as well.

Unfortunately, though, I still read far too often in the paper and see on the news stories of the lives lost.

The ROADS SAFE Act (S. 510) co-sponsored by Sen. Tom Udall, which will support the development of passive in-vehicle alcohol detection systems is one such innovative strategy.

We must continue these efforts and look for new and innovative strategies to further reduce drunk driving.

Thank you for holding this important hearing to advance our Nation's highway and highway safety programs.

But just as you summarized your testimony, you know, we need to be vigilant.

S. 510 (ROADS SAFE Act of 2011) will help accelerate this effort and open the door to a future where alcohol-impaired driving fatalities are a rarity versus the chronic traffic safety problem it remains today.

I think it is clear from these three panels we have made progress, but we still have a lot to do, no doubt about it.