According to data compiled by the National Transportation Safety Board, Massachusetts does not fare well in achieving the minimal requirements to reduce drunk driving and prevent Massachusetts driving accidents.
The NTSB found that 70% of all alcohol related fatalities were the result of “hard core drinking drivers”–drivers who are repeat offenders. Thus, the NTSB has recommendations for the states to follow, to reduce deaths on the nations highways as a result of alcohol. Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents could be reduced if it complied with all of the recommendations, according to the federal regulators.
The NTSB proposes a model program for the “hard core drinking drivers,” which includes:
1. Statewide sobriety checkpoints
2. Sanctions of separating drivers from their vehicles following a drinking incident
3. Statewide programs to enforce license suspension
4. Legislation that requires zero tolerance for alcohol following a conviction
5. Legislation that defines an “aggravated” offense as having a blood alcohol content as 0.15% or higher
6. Alternatives to jail
7. Restricted plea bargaining to a non-alcohol related offense
8. Eliminating completion of a “program” as erasing the offense
9. Establish administrative license revocation programs
10. A 10 year record retention program
11. States to establish “individualized sanction” programs for hard-core offenders.
Massachusetts has adopted only four (4) of the above recommendations! The recommendations that have been followed in Massachusetts to date are 1, 6, 9 and 10.