Is interlock effective against drunk driving?
A. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that there is clear evidence that the ignition interlock device, installed in the offender’s vehicle, is substantially more effective than license suspension in deterring DUI recidivism. It also found a direct correlation between the amount of time the device was required in the vehicle and the number of times the driver was re-arrested for a new DUI offense. An International Council on Alcohol Drugs and Traffic Safety study concluded that “breath alcohol ignition interlock devices, when embedded in a comprehensive monitoring and service program lead to 40- 95% reductions in the rate of repeat DWI offenses of convicted DWI offenders.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that attaching an interlock to a car for a year after its operator is convicted of driving while intoxicated would reduce recidivism by an estimated 75% and alcohol-related fatalities by 7%. Numerous other studies are available. Q.
