U.S. Steps Up Effort to Combat Drunk Driving Accidents

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Repeat drunk drivers were added to the government's "most wanted" list of transportation safety improvements on Tuesday as part of push to reduce deaths on America's roads.

"The fact that we suffer almost 43,000 road fatalities each year in this country is both tragic and unacceptable," said Ellen Engleman, National Transportation Safety Board chairman, noting that the problem was "crying out for attention."

Studies showed repeat offenders posed an increased risk of crashes and were often responsible for fatal accidents.

Alcohol-related crashes accounted for 17,419 traffic deaths in 2002 -- 41 percent of the total. Repeat drunk drivers represent less than 1 percent of all drivers but are involved in about 27 percent of fatal accidents, the board said.

The safety board has previously recommended that states conduct widespread sobriety checkpoints, prohibit repeat offenders from driving, and eliminate programs that purge drunk driving convictions after a period of time.

The "most wanted" list highlights the government's safety priorities, but carries no regulatory authority.