Drunk Driving: A Reformative Social Movement Analysis

Across Canada, there are thousands of individuals each year who drive drunk. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) Canada is a social movement that was formed in 1989 to informed the community about how many persons are injured from drunk driving. MADD Canada aims at changing the rules of impaired driving to better society. They want individuals to become aware of the penalties that can be imposed if you do drive drunk; such as a fine and/or imprisonment. Their goal is to reduce the amount of drunk driving that occurs in Canada (and worldwide). They provide the public with information online, in newspapers, social media and tv advertisements. MADD Canada aims at changing the laws and informing individuals about the danger and outcomes when driving drunk. MADD Canada is an example of a progressive reformative social movement (Locher, 2001, p.237). …show more content…
Reformative social movements can be progressive or reactionary (Locher, 2001, p.236). Progressive movements are seeking to make a change (Locher, 2001, p.236). Reactionary movements or countermovements are seeking to resist or reverse a change (Locher, 2001, p.236). MADD Canada searches for minor change instead of radical change (Boundless, 2015). It is common that this social movement will use to legal system to promote their ideas and use the legal system to change, what they consider to be, unfair laws (Greenberg, 1994). This social movement was formed to change the laws and attitudes of law enforcement officials, politicians and citizens towards drinking and driving (Locher, 2001, p.237). MADD Canada is advocating to change the Criminal Code of Canada (in regards to drunk driving) and changing the blood alcohol content limit for drivers under 21 years of