Significant inroads have been made in the past two decades in the fight against drink driving. Many types of countermeasures have been developed and implemented. Despite the dramatic reduction in drink driving and the dramatic change in societal attitudes related to this behaviour, drink driving is still a significant cause of accidents and casualties. One of the relatively recent countermeasures is the alcohol ignition interlock, a technological solution that prevents engine operation if a sample containing alcohol above a set level is provided. The current research project examined the practical issues that arise from setting up and operating a programme that involved the use of this technology by convicted drink drivers. This report describes the technology, the existing interlock programmes, their effectiveness in reducing drink driving, and reports on the methodology and results of a longitudinal experimental research study carried out in the UK. (Author/publisher)
Abstract