A recent national drinking and driving survey stated that 16.5% of Illinois residents admitted to driving while “under the influence of alcohol”. The national average was 15.1%. The Midwest region tends to be the highest area of admitted drinking and driving.
Both numbers seem very high, which raises serious questions about how the survey was conducted, and how the question was asked. “Under the influence of alcohol” may mean very different things to different people. It could mean under the influence of a safely, reasonably, and legal amount of alcohol in many cases.
The survey didn’t specify legally impaired under the law. If the question had been asked “Have you committed a crime of DUI and gotten away with it” I’m sure the answers would have been different.
Is Illinois really a state where more than 15 out of 100 people are admitted lawbreakers?
Surveys like this are certainly good for business for MADD, crusading anti drug driving legislatures, and manufacturers of ignition interlock devices. But do they really help inform or protect the public, and does the result of the outcry actually reduce drunk driving rates?
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