Kansas earns high marks from MADD for efforts against driving drunk

? Kansas earned the highest rating possible for laws designed to combat drunken driving, Mothers Against Drunk Driving announced Thursday.

The nation as a whole received a three-star rating, while Kansas was given five stars.

“The five-star out of five-star rating provides an important indicator of where the state stands in its efforts to eliminate drunk driving,” said MADD Kansas volunteer Chris Mann. “Although our state is definitely on the right track in our fight against drunk driving, we must remain committed to effective implementation of the tools outlined in the report in order to see fewer deaths and injuries as a result of drunk driving.”

Kansas has passed laws requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunken drivers, utilizing administrative driver’s license revocation for drunken driving offenders, enhanced penalties for those who drive drunk with children in the vehicle, and other measures.

MADD credited Sen. Tim Owens, R-Overland Park, and Rep. Pat Colloton, R-Leawood, for getting the ignition interlock legislation passed.

Of Kansas’ neighboring states, Missouri and Oklahoma earned three stars, Colorado, four and Nebraska, five.