Link to Study
July 12, 2000
A new study says millions of Americans who've lost the legal right to drive because of alcohol, speeding, and moving violations are still motoring merrily along.
The study says many young men and illegal immigrants of all ages have never bothered to get a drivers' license.
Charles Sherrill reports from our exclusive Washington bureau.
A fatal crash three weeks ago in Boston was blamed on a truck driver whose license had been suspended.
One that killed a Las Vegas woman last March was allegedly caused by a motorist whose license had been revoked after several drunken driving convictions in close succession.
And these cases are not ususual, according to research data released today by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
DAVID WILLIS/AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY: "ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES IN THIS COUNTRY INVOLVES A DRIVER WHO IS NOT LEGALLY LICENSED TO DRIVE."
The study says drivers without a legal license are twice as likely to be drunk when involved in a fatal crash.
DR. LINDSAY GRIFFIN/TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE: "THEY'RE OVER FIVE TIMES AS LIKELY TO BE A HIT AND RUN DRIVER."
It found one fourth of illegal drivers had been revoked or suspended at least three times in the preceding three.
DR. LINDSAY GRIFFIN/TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE: "IT'S LIKE A REVOLVING DOOR. THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING SUSPENDED AND SUSPENDED AND SUSPENDED AGAIN."
The study ranks New Mexico worst with 23.9% of drivers involved in fatal crashes not legally licensed. Maine is best at 6.9%
Utah's in the middle at 13.1%
About one fifth of the Utah drivers had three or more suspensions or revocations in the three years preceding a fatal collision.
DR. LINDSAY GRIFFIN/TEXAS TRASPORTATION INSTITUTE: "THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO JUST MANAGED TO SLIP UP ONE TIME AND NOW THEY'RE SUSPENDED. THEY SEEM TO BE MORE OF A CHRONICALLY ABERRANT GROUP."
CHARLES SHERRILL/EYEWITNESS NEWS: "THE RESEARCHERS SAY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW FOR SURE HOW BIG THE PROBLEM TRULY IS BECAUSE NO ONE CAN SAY HOW MANY UNLICENSED DRIVERS ARE ON THE STREETS. THEY OFTEN BECOME KNOWN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE SCENE OF A SERIOUS CRASH. CHARLES SHERRILL, EYEWITNESS NEWS, WASHINGTON."
The researchers say seizure of repeat offenders' vehicles would solve part of the problem.
Long term,they suggest a driver's license that works like a personal card key.
Invalidate the license, and its owner can't start any vehicle equipped with a card reader.
