Aiken Receives Top Award from National Commission for Pioneer Effective Anti-DWI Effort

By Joan Corboy, RID Washington, DC Coordinator

The National Commission Against Drunk Driving (NCADD) elected to give Doris Aiken, from Schenectady, their Founder’s (Life Time Achievement) award for pioneering the first effective anti–DWI Campaign in the nation. This award is given infrequently and is the NCADD’s highest award.

“The last such award went to Senator Robert Dole in 1991” John Moulden, NCADD President said. Aiken was nominated by Ralph Hudson, MD who is a NCADD Commissioner, retired Emergency Room surgeon and previous winner of the NCADD Activist award.

Dr. Hudson noted in his nomination five unusual and outstanding characteristics of Aiken’s campaign dubbed RID (Remove Intoxicated Drivers):

  1. Persistence: Aiken has been unswerving in her advocacy for victims.
  2. Tenacious: Disliked by many defense attorneys, Aiken has been a pitbull in insisting that (Lawyer) legislators stand up and be counted.
  3. A Leader by example: With little money, Aiken has inspired RID chapters to stay involved for 25 years as volunteers by her writings, speaking and presence.
  4. Gracious: With RID coordinators in 41 States, Aiken allows freedom of (local) expression, fund raising and control of monies.
  5. Innovative: Aiken initiated DWI court monitoring and victim witness panels, effective programs which are continuing to this date.
  6. Visionary: Aiken saw that abusive alcohol over consumption has terrible consequences in addition to DWI traffic deaths and injuries. With her leadership, RID has exposed binge drinking and alcohol poisoning as a national problem publicizing that consuming ethyl alcohol too much and too fast can cause death within 24 hours.

Fran Ehlmstadter, RID Chairwoman said, “Without Aiken’s leadership New York’s alcohol–related highway deaths would not have plummeted 50% over the past decades, and remain at 26% (the national rate is 41%) since 1980 when the RID bill package became law. No longer could drunk drivers get an automatic plea to reckless driving, or bald tires, nor could they refuse a breath test without losing their license. More than 6,000 NY motorists are alive today due to Aiken's early intervention.”

The 19th Awards Luncheon presentation was scheduled for December 4, 2003, in Washington, DC at the Army & Navy Club.

The NCADD is the successor organization to the Presidential Commission Against Drunk Driving formed by President Reagan in 1982, to stem the tide of DWI injuries and deaths at the bequest of Congress. The NCADD is a broad–based coalition of public and private sister organizations and concerned individuals who share this common purpose.