Insurance News
New Data Show Troubling Number of Repeat Drunk Drivers on U.S. Highways
Dec 03,2008
At a national level, there are approximately 2 million drunk drivers with three or more convictions, who will be on the highways during the holiday season. This includes about 400,000 drunk drivers who have five or more convictions. This is based on data released Nov. 25 by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, that were reported by 20 states and the District of Columbia to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The report also includes data made available by other sources for three additional states.
The annual state progress report was also released on November 25th by MADD, providing drunk driving fatality statistics for each state and available repeat offender data and that also highlights efforts on laws governing ignition interlock along with sobriety checkpoints.
National president of MADD, Laura Dean-Mooney, whose husband, Mike Dean, was killed by a drunk driver just before Thanksgiving in 1991, says that these stunning statistics of repeat drunk driving offenders show that law enforcement is doing its job through its tracking down and arresting drunk drivers. She adds however, that unfortunately, the criminal justice system's 'catch and release' approach to drunk driving still stands as a huge threat to public safety. Dean-Mooney says that MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving calls for action throughout all of the 50 states to put a stop to repeat offenses through the use of comprehensive interlock legislation.
David Kelly, NHTSA’s acting administrator, says that to keep all motorists safe this holiday season it is necessary to get drunk drivers off the roads and to stop them from repeating their crimes. He says that through the intense use of strong enforcement efforts and the increased use of alcohol ignition interlock systems, it will be possible to stop repeat offenders from getting back on the road. In addition, the NTSB also called on states to employ stronger action with regard to drunk driving.
A particularly unsafe time as regards driving on U.S. roads is the holiday season. For example, during the 2007 season, nearly 1,500 people died in crashes involving a drunk driver between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. For this reason, during the holiday season, MADD is increasing its request for every state to introduce interlock laws applying to all convicted drunk drivers including those facing their first convictions. This was done in 2007 by the state of Washington.
Washington state governor Chris Gregoire says that interlocks have been proven highly effective at reducing recidivism in his state. He stresses the importance that all of the states work together to approve interlocks in order to help to save lives and to avoid injuries from this deadly crime.