Alcohol Ignition Interlocks in All New Vehicles: A Broader Perspective

Abstract

Objective: To discuss the implications of widespread implementation of alcohol ignition interlocks.

Method: We base our discussion on data from Finland including crash statistics and surveys collected from criminal justice professionals and general driving population.

Results: Alcohol ignition interlocks are an effective preventive measure against drunk driving when installed in the vehicles of convicted drunk drivers. However, once they are removed from the vehicles, drivers typically return to their habit of drinking and driving. Furthermore, for a number of reasons, the proportion of convicted drunk drivers that install an interlock in their vehicles is quite small. Therefore, many stakeholders believe that the solution to the drunk driving problem will come when interlocks become standard equipment in all new vehicles. However, drunk driving is a complex sociopsychological problem, and technology can rarely offer a solution to such complex problems. Consequently, many aspects of such interventions might be difficult to identify and include in cost–benefit analysis.

Conclusion: We express caution about requiring an interlock as standard equipment in all new vehicles.

Keywords:

• motor vehicle crashes
• drunk driving
• alcohol ignition interlock
• cost–benefit analysis
• traffic police
• prosecutors

Acknowledgments

This article is based on a presentation by the first author, “Alcohol Ignition Interlocks in All New Vehicles? Disagreement Between General Public and Criminal Justice Professionals,” at the 5th International Congress of Traffic and Transport Psychology, ICTTP 2012, Groningen, The Netherlands, August 29–31. We thank Heikki Ihalainen from the Ministry of Interior, Susanna Reimari and Janne Rintatalo from the Finnish police, the Central Organization for Traffic Safety (Liikenneturva), and the Traffic Safety Committee of Insurance Companies (VALT) for providing us with the data used in the present study. Finally, we also thank 5 reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions.