Nearly four decades after its founding, Mothers Against Drunk Driving is still waging a fight in state legislatures.

“What I’ve seen over the years is as the laws addressing drunk driving have become more refined, less fatalities would occur and the correlation is remarkable,” said Steven Benvenisti, MADD national board member.

Benvenisti was read his last rites and eventually had 15 surgeries to save his life after a drunk driver hit him crossing the street in 1989. He came back to the legislature to lobby for a bill conditionally vetoed three years ago that mandated ignition interlock devices on cars for first offenders.

“Since that time, since it was vetoed, we lost 245 people in the state of New Jersey to drunk driving. So this legislation will save lives,” he said.

Second and third offenders must breathe in to what works like a breathalyzer. If it detects a certain level of blood-alcohol, the device will lock the ignition and prevent that person from driving. Benvenisti says 32 other states and D.C. have ignition interlock for all convicted drunk drivers, driving down drunk driving deaths by as much as 52 percent in some states.

“Did you know that the CDC has determined that this type of legislation reduces drunk driving rearrest rates by 67 percent, which is compelling, so the data is there. In a state like New Jersey that’s so densely populated, that loses hundreds of people every single year to drunk driving fatalities – a crime that’s completely preventable – this legislation without question will save lives and it’s long overdue,” Benvenisti said.

The bill would shorten license suspensions and jail time for drunk driving crimes, but mandate the ignition interlock for all those convicted of it. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of the bill.

“What we need to do here is change the behavior. We want to make sure people do not drive in an intoxicated fashion. And if it is a minor offense and no injury as a result of it – perhaps the person just had an isolated incident – we’ll give them an opportunity to maintain their driver’s license to get to work, but also to make sure that they cannot do it. So if you had this ignition interlock device for all offenders, you’re going to change people’s behaviors. You’re going to safeguard the public at the same time,” said Sen. Nick Scutari.

With the committee vote, the ignition interlock bill moves a step closer to becoming law and applying to first-time offenders. Benvenisti says he has a plea for those who drink and consider driving: Heed the advice of those around you not to do it.

“And that individual may be angry at them that night for stopping them from getting behind the wheel of a car, but that same person will be alive the next day to say thank you for saving my life,” Benvenisti said.

And perhaps the lives of others as well.