Tackling the Issue of Repeat Offenders

Over the past quarter-century, the number of people killed each year on U.S. roads due to drunk drivers has gone down by 44 percent. While that statistic shows progress, roughly a third of all drivers arrested or convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) are repeat offenders, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). And those drivers are 40 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than those without prior DUI convictions.

From 2003 to 2004—the most recent years for which information was available at press time—fatalities from crashes involving alcohol or other abused substances dropped 2.4 percent. In 2004, 16,694 people died in alcohol-related crashes.

“But 16,694 deaths from alcohol (crashes) is unacceptable,” said Chuck Hurley, chief executive officer of MADD.

And reducing the number of repeat offenders is a target of renewed advocacy, education and enforcement efforts. “They are people who have known for years that drunk driving kills kids and they still do it,” Hurley added. “They still do it even after conviction.”

The public has the power to choose its level of tolerance with drunk driving, which could be eradicated much in the same way dedicated resources and awareness campaigns have wiped out diseases such as polio, Hurley continued.

“One reason repeat offenders drive drunk is because they can,” he said. “With effective enforcement and new technology, we’re looking forward to the day they no longer can.”

Prepared by Kyra Scarton Newman, Freelancer, Glen Allen, Virginia.

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