Efforts are underway to develop advanced alcohol detection technologies suitable for use in all vehicles to prevent driving with an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Public attitudes toward having this technology in all vehicles were assessed. A nationally representative sample of people 18 and older was interviewed by telephone about attitudes toward in-vehicle alcohol detection technology. Eighty-four percent of survey respondents supported requiring convicted DWI offenders to put alcohol ignition interlocks in their vehicles. Sixty-four percent said having advanced alcohol detection technology in all vehicles is a good or very good idea, assuming the technology is reliable; 30% said it is a bad idea. Most people in favour said it would prevent alcohol-impaired driving, save lives, or prevent crashes. Among respondents who said it is a bad/very bad idea, one-third cited concerns about privacy or government interference; 20% said not all drivers need to be screened. Support for the technology was highest among respondents who do not drink, but it also was favoured by the majority of respondents who drink, respondents who have driven within 2 hours of consuming alcohol, and respondents who may have driven when they were above the legal limit for alcohol. Forty-two percent of respondents who drive said they would want an advanced alcohol detection device in their next vehicles if it was available as an option at a reasonable price. Of the 54% who said they would not want a device, 44% said they do not drink alcohol so it would not be useful. Most people said a price less than $500 would be reasonable. It appears that the majority of the US population is receptive to the idea of having advanced alcohol detection devices in all vehicles to prevent people from driving with an illegal BAC. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting