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According to Burritt, MADD\u2019s vision is no longer a dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Passive prevention technology, vehicles equipped to detect and stop impaired drivers, is now on the horizon, thanks partly to the Infrastructure Act, which MADD lobbied hard to influence. But progress isn\u2019t coming fast enough. Deadlines are being missed, and families are still getting calls that change everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brooke remembered the court hearings, the grief, and the fear of navigating the justice system alone. But she wasn\u2019t alone for long. A stranger \u2014 another mother who had lost her daughter to an impaired driver \u2014 connected her with MADD. From that moment on, MADD was there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will never forget the kindness and strength of the MADD volunteers who stood by me during those overwhelming court dates \u2014 Mrs. Mary Ann Flowers, her husband, and Mrs. Karla Smith,\u201d Brooke said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey showed up, not just physically, but emotionally, helping me face moments I never imagined I\u2019d have to endure. I didn\u2019t know where to turn or how even to begin fighting for justice for my husband. But their support gave me hope and direction when I needed it most.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most important steps in Tennessee\u2019s fight against impaired driving came with the passing of Ethan\u2019s, Hailey\u2019s, and Bentley\u2019s Law, better known nationally as Bentley\u2019s Law. The legislation, which first passed in Tennessee, allows courts to order drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill or disable a parent. Brooke is one of the first recipients of support under this new law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLowering the legal drinking age to 21 and reducing the blood alcohol content standard down to .08 are two massive life-saving changes that had to be approved at the state level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shawn\u2019s youngest daughters were just 9 and 5 when they lost their father. Today, they still cry for him. They still celebrate his birthday and Father\u2019s Day with cake and candles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe often sit together and watch old videos to see his smile and hear his voice again. It was nearly impossible in the beginning without breaking down in tears, but now, those same videos bring us comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brooke has now turned her grief into purpose. With her daughters, she walks in MADD\u2019s annual Walk Like MADD event, where her team was the top fundraiser last year. She\u2019s preparing to speak at events, determined to be a voice for the voiceless and to honor Shawn in a way that creates change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Tennessee, MADD\u2019s efforts continue to focus on outreach, education, and prevention. Despite having the 15th largest population, the state ranks among the top 10 for drunk driving deaths. MADD aims to change that through school programs, community partnerships, and victim advocacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MADD\u2019s ultimate goal is to put itself out of business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToo many tears have been shed on our shoulders. This doesn\u2019t need to happen anymore. I believe in 10 years we\u2019ll have a lot of cars out on the road too smart to let a drunk driver operate them, and we\u2019ll see the crash and fatality numbers dropping like we\u2019ve always dreamed of,\u201d Burritt said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But justice still feels incomplete. The man who killed Shawn was sentenced to just 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe man who killed my husband was sentenced to just 10 years,\u201d Brooke said. \u201cTen years for a life that could have had 40 or more years left. Ten years for taking away a father, a husband, a future. How can anyone say his life was only worth that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a question that haunts too many. But for now, Brooke and her family continue to grieve, celebrate, and advocate. And MADD continues to fight until no more candles have to be blown out in memory instead of celebration. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Join MADD in September as they rally for change and celebrate their 45th anniversary in Washington, D.C. Visit www.madd.org\/find-a-local-office\/ to find a MADD office near you.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ON A quiet morning in Tennessee, Brooke Stewart\u2019s world shattered. Her husband, Shawn Stewart, a steel mill worker and devoted father of four, kissed his family goodbye, told them he loved them the night before, and headed to work just after 5 a.m. \u2014 as he always did. Minutes later, a drunk driver with a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":22964,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/lebanon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/09\/2-1-1024x683.jpg\")