Deadly High-risk Drivers Often Go Unidentified and Unpunished, AAA Chicago Warns

    AURORA, Ill., Feb. 20 -- Unlicensed and habitual drunk
drivers are among the greatest safety threats on the nation's highways,
according to two studies released today by the AAA Foundation for Traffic
Safety.  Specifically, habitual drunk drivers make up 40 percent of all
drinking-driving trips, while unlicensed drivers are almost five times more
likely to be in fatal crashes than drivers with valid driver's licenses.
"A relatively small number of irresponsible and intoxicated individuals are
endangering the rest of us on the roads," said Steve Nolan, spokesperson for
AAA Chicago. "Unfortunately, these high-risk drivers are slipping through the
cracks and escaping punishment."

    Among other findings of the studies:
    -- Two-thirds of drivers with suspended licenses continue to drive;
    -- More than half of all drivers arrested for driving while intoxicated
       are repeat offenders;
    -- There is a less than 1-in-50 chance that a drunk driver will be
       arrested on any given drunk driving trip.

    AAA Chicago noted that in Illinois, 19.8 percent of fatal crashes were
alcohol related, according to the most recent data.  Additionally, 13 percent
of drivers involved in a fatal crash in Illinois were driving without a
license.
    As Congress prepares to reauthorize a major transportation-funding bill,
AAA will push for continued federal support to reinvigorate state and local
efforts to address drunk driving. AAA supports simplifying the federal safety
grant process and including performance-based criteria. On the state level,
AAA will push for states to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their laws,
license regulations and assessment programs to combat these deadly drivers.
    "We believe this new research can be the catalyst in helping to focus on
the problem and to develop tailored solutions to reduce high-risk driving in
our state," said Nolan.
    The research studies by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety can be found
at: http://www.aaafoundation.org .

    AAA Chicago offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services.
It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs
in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states.  ACG clubs belong to
the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 45
million members in the United States and Canada.