Illinois is one of a handful of states to earn a 5-star ranking from the advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Each year MADD assess all 50 states to see how well they are doing at preventing and policing drunk driving. Illinois has typically scored very well in the assessment, earning high marks in each of the last five years. 2016 was no different, as the state earned the highest ranking available – a 5-star mark.
In order to determine how committed a state is to preventing and policing drunk driving, MADD takes a look at five key statistics. They look to see how each state is doing in these five categories:
- Mandatory Ignition Interlocks For All Drunk Drivers
- Enhanced Penalties For Endangering A Child While Driving Drunk
- State Participation In No-Refusal Events
- Utilizing Administrative License Revocation
- Conducting Sobriety Checkpoints Throughout The State
MADD found that Illinois met all five criteria they examined, which earned the state a 5-star ranking. Other states that earned the 5-star ranking include Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, Virginia and West Virginia.
Still Room For Improvement
Although Illinois earned the 5-star grade, MADD still issued a statement suggesting that the state has room for improvement. Here’s what the group had to say about the Land of Lincoln.
Illinois, was among one of the first states to enact its all-offender ignition interlock law. Since 2009, the state has seen a reduction in drunk driving fatalities. However, with offenders having the option to go on interlock or license suspension, installation rates are just over 20 percent of eligible offenders. Compare that to Wisconsin, a state with a weaker interlock law but a better compliance rate. MADD calls on lawmakers to pass legislation improving the interlock law in Illinois to improve installation rates to mirror compliance in other all-offender interlock law states.