Guest Column                                                       

Illinois voters want state to get tougher with drunk drivers More strict with younger drivers; less alcohol to define a 'DUI' By NICK PANAGAKIS

Most Illinois voters would like to see the state get tougher with drunk drivers. Most favor lowering the blood alcohol content level at which a motorist is considered to be driving under the influence, from the current 0.1 percent. And most support an even lower standard for drivers under the age of 21. This support was shown in a poll conducted by Market Shares for Kemper National Insurance Companies in Long Grove.

By a margin of two-to-one or 61 percent, those polled favor a lower .08 percent blood alcohol content level to define legally DUI in Illinois. Only 32 percent oppose this lower standard, defined as about four drinks in one hour on an empty stomach for a 160-pound person.

In the poll 801 Illinois registered voters were interviewed by phone between August 12 and 15, 1993. Results were analyzed by demographic groups and by these areas: Chicago, suburban Cook County, collar counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will) and by upper and lower downstate (dividing line, north of Springfield).

Majorities of voters in all parts of the state favor a reduction to .08 percent, a level which is now the standard in 10 other states. Support ranges from 69 percent in the collar counties to 54 percent in the upper downstate area. A majority in all age groups also favor the proposition, including 64 percent of people under age 35.

Results were analyzed by alcohol use. People who have not had any alcoholic drinks in the past three months (nondrinkers) and people who drink less than once a week were strongly in favor of lowering the level to the .08 percent standard for DUI. Among those using alcohol once a week or more, 48 percent were in favor and 45 percent were opposed.

When asked how many drinks in one hour it should take to be considered DUI, 56 percent said less than the four drinks which is equivalent to .08 percent: 29 percent did not know the number of drinks that would mean DUI; 23 percent said three drinks; 19 percent said two; and 14 percent said one. A drink was defined in the question as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or one mixed drink. Statewide, the average answer was 2.60 drinks an hour. The average answer among drinkers surveyed was 2.84 drinks, but the average answer was higher for those who drink alcohol once a week or more — 3.16 drinks. Those under age 35 believe it takes more drinks to be DUI — an average of 3.01 drinks. Men said it takes more drinks than women did, 2.81 vs. 2.41 drinks per hour.

The current 0.1 percent blood alcohol level in Illinois is the same for drivers of all ages. A majority, 55 percent, of those surveyed believe the standard should be lower for drivers under age 21; only 40 percent oppose a lower standard. The strongest support for a lower limit for drivers age 21 and younger came from those under age 35, with 63 percent of them in favor and 30 percent opposed to the idea. Each geographical area had a majority agreeing with the different alcohol level for the younger drivers, ranging from 51 percent in the lower downstate area to 64 percent in the collar counties. A lower standard for young drivers was also favored by 59 percent of nondrinkers and by 56 percent of those drinking less than once a week.

The state has taken steps in recent years to reduce the number of drunk drivers. Virtually all voters approve of this action. Voters give the Illinois General Assembly a total approval rating of 95 percent for steps it has taken to reduce drunk driving. Most of this approval was very favorable — 86 percent gave the legislature strong approval for this action. Only 2 percent disapproved of the legislature's actions on the issue.

Drinking and driving is an issue, perhaps one of the rare ones, where constituents uniformly support measures enacted by the legislature. But the survey shows they would like to see the legislature do more. *

Nick Panagakis is president of Market Shares Corporation, a marketing and public opinion research firm headquartered in Mount Prospect. Panagakis, a member of the National Council on Public Polls, is known for preelection and exit polls conducted for the news media in Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin.

10/December 1993/Illinois Issues