Since December 1997, an alcohol ignition interlock program has been in place in Quebec. Working on a voluntary basis, the program operates on a user-pay rental scheme with an installation fee of C$150 plus C$87.50 per month. The incentive to participate in the program is a 9-month reduction of the license suspension for a first DWI offence (3-month suspension plus 9 months on interlock instead of 1-year suspension) and, until July 1999, an 18-month reduction for a second DWI offence (6-month suspension plus 18 months on interlock instead of 2-year suspension). During the first year of implementation, 4,160 drivers had obtained a restricted license (must drive with an interlock). On average, these 4,160 drivers stayed 223.4 days on the program between December 1, 1997 and May 31, 1999 (772 restricted licenses obtained before December 1998 were still active on May 31, 1999). A simple before-during-after comparison of traffic convictions, DWI convictions, casualty crashes and property damage only (PDO) crashes per 10,000 days of exposure was performed. Preliminary results indicate a very low DWI reconviction rate and a large decrease in crashes for both during and after periods. Despite more formal evaluation needed, preliminary results clearly suggest that it is worth continuing the program.
Samenvatting