Five years of fatal traffic crash data (FARS 1993-1997) were analysed to learn more about the license status of drivers involved in fatal crashes. This data set included 278,078 drivers who were involved in 183,749 fatal crashes. Of particular interest were drivers in three aberrant categories: (1) drivers with an invalid license (i.e., a suspended, revoked, expired, or cancelled/ denied license)–20,596 (7.4%); (2) drivers with no known license –10,228 (3.7%); and (3) drivers of unknown license status–7,632 (2.7%) It was found that 20 percent of all fatal crashes–one fatal crash in five– involves at least one improperly licensed driver as defined above. Further analyses sought to show the involvement of these aberrant drivers in fatal crashes as a function of several variables: age, sex, vehicle type, previous DWI’s, previous suspensions and revocations, and so forth. A brief review of the literature considered three vehicle sanctions or modifications that have been developed to reduce unlawful driving: vehicle impoundment, electronic driver licenses, and ignition interlocks. (Author/publisher)
Abstract