ILLINOIS WINNING WAR AGAINST DRUNK DRIVERS; RECEIVES TOP NATIONAL RANKING FROM MADD By SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE H. RYAN

While motorists still need to watch out for drunk drivers, Illinois appears to be winning the battle against alcohol-related traffic fatalities. According to recent national statistics, the number of people in this state killed in crashes involving drinkers fell sharply last year — from 672 in 1992 to 629 in 1993, a 6.4 percent decline.

In conjunction with these statistics, the new, 1993 DUI Fact Book produced by the Secretary of State's office shows the number of DUI arrests statewide continuing a long decline, total arrests fell from 47,941 in 1992 to 46,128 last year.

More significantly, DUI arrests for underage drivers are down 8 percent from 1992, compared to 4 percent for all drivers. Since 1986, DUI arrests have dropped 46 percent for drivers under age 21, compared to 16 percent for all drivers.

I have every reason to believe that we will see these trends continue into the future. People — especially teens — are hearing the message and are using it. Our new "Use It & Lose It" zero-tolerance law for underage drinking drivers will help us save even more lives and, I hope, convince even more teens not to drink.

My zero-tolerance proposal is now awaiting the signature of Gov. Jim Edgar, who already has endorsed the measure. The law, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, would take away the driving privileges of teens caught driving with even a trace of alcohol in their systems.

The 28-page DUI Fact Book, the 12th released by this office, also features information about Illinois' top ranking nationwide for its efforts to combat drunk driving. Illinois was given an A-minus this year — the highest grade awarded — by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in its annual "Rating the States" survey.

In addition to the zero-tolerance law, this office has introduced several other statewide initiatives recently to reduce drunk driving even further.

Operation Straight ID

The whole idea of Operation Straight ID is to save lives. Young drivers who hit the bars before hitting the roads are killing themselves, and they are killing other people, too.

Beginning with college communities, my office is scheduling dozens of seminars and distributing how-to guides to local police and municipal officials, campus police and security personnel, bar operators and retail liquor store employees throughout Illinois.

For Operation Straight ID to succeed, everyone must be involved. The goal of the program is to educate those on the front lines, especially the servers and sellers of alcoholic beverages, about how to spot fake IDs and what to do if they encounter one. The program also focuses on additional steps that can be taken to curb the manufacture and use of fraudulent identification.

Ignition Interlocks

Judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys have been informed that this office is about to embark on a two-year experiment aimed at keeping known hard-core drunk drivers from combining drinking and driving. Under the program, my office will require the state's worst DUI offenders to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicles as a condition of getting a restricted driving permit. Only a person with alcohol-free breath can start an interlock-equipped vehicle.

I personally look at this as a hard-core offender's last chance to win back even the most limited driving privileges. If they blow this chance, I do not think there is much more we should do for them.

Despite ignition interlocks, the best deterrent against drinking and driving is swift and certain driver's license action. In 1993, 91 percent of all offenders arrested for DUI had their licenses suspended or revoked under Illinois' statutory summary suspension law. Since 1986, between 90 and 92 percent of all persons arrested for DUI have lost their driving privileges.

DUI Prevention Speaker

I recognize the importance of receiving input from DUI victims when organizing and promoting DUI programs. To date, I have hired two victims to help advise me and assist on this issue.

One — Laura Murphy — is a special assistant in my

August 1994 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 25

DUI Prevention Unit. Murphy is available to speak to civic organizations and high school and college students about the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. She is primarily involved in educating teens about the zero-tolerance law.

Murphy's interest in DUI prevention dates back to 1987 when, at the age of 18, she and a friend were hit head-on by a drunk driver as they returned from college to attend their high school's homecoming football game. She woke up from a 10-day coma to spend four months in the hospital and a year in outpatient therapy.

Murphy had to re-learn very basic skills, everything from feeding herself and tying her shoe laces to walking, talking and writing. While making extraordinary progress in her recovery, she still experiences difficulty with skills that before the crash were simple to her.

Prior to joining this office, Murphy had done public speaking for MADD, the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists and other professional organizations. Her informative and emotional presentations have proven to be highly effective with all audiences. Laura is an invaluable resource in the fight to end drunk driving.

August 1994 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 26