In the context of a framework contract with the European Commission, DG for Mobility and Transport, the COWI consortium has been awarded the contract to perform a study on the prevention of drink-driving by the use of alcohol interlock devices. The study has been carried out by Ecorys Netherlands, member of the COWI consortium, in cooperation with the consultancy organisations SWOV and ADV. This report presents the findings of this study in accordance with the Terms of Reference (see Annex 1). In July 2010 the European Commission adopted the Policy Orientations on Road Safety for 2010- 2020. One of the strategic objectives identified by the Commission is the enforcement of road safety rules. Among the Commission’s priorities in this field is the prevention of driving under the influence of alcohol (drink-driving). Despite lower alcohol limits, increased enforcement and awareness campaigns, drink-driving is still a major safety problem. According to recent data from the DRUID study, alcohol-impaired road users are involved in about a quarter of all fatal crashes in Europe. As part of the continued effort to prevent drink-driving, thereby increasing road safety, the Commission wants to examine the possibility to make alcohol interlock devices mandatory for certain categories of drivers or vehicles. Following the Terms of Reference (ToR), the purpose of this study is to provide the Commission with relevant information that will assist in: • deciding whether or not to propose EU legislative measures requiring the installation of alcohol interlock devices as a means to prevent drink-driving, and • determining to what extent vehicle and device standardisation is deemed necessary. Therefore, this study assesses the possible effects of the use of alcohol interlocks on road collisions caused by drink-driving in all EU Member States, as well as its cost/benefit implications. Based on this assessment, and a process of stakeholder consultation, the study provides recommendations on the mandatory implementation of alcohol interlock devices in vehicles at EU level, and appropriate categories of drivers and/or vehicles that should be subject to these measures. Furthermore, the study recommends on the level of vehicle and device standardisation that is deemed necessary. The study relies on the combination of extensive desk research and direct interaction with stakeholders. The tasks 1 and 7 provide the main input for the analysis that has been carried out in the other tasks. In particular the input from tasks 1 -7 has been used in task 8 to provide an integral assessment of advantages and disadvantages, and in task 10 to assess costs and benefits of possible measures. This assessment underpins the recommendations concerning the adoption of EU measures on alcohol interlock devices. Systematic desk research has been carried out of all available sources of information on alcohol related fatalities in road traffic, as well as on the development, implementation and impact of alcohol interlock devices. The data sources include general literature; websites; EU and national statistical databases; EU Member States’ national legislation; targeted reports by stakeholder organisations; reports of EU funded and Member States’ projects dealing with road safety, alcohol and alcohol interlock devices. A stakeholders consultation has been carried out, consisting of a questionnaire and a stakeholders meeting in which the results of the questionnaire have been discussed. A detailed online questionnaire has been designed and submitted to 140 stakeholders, including representatives of government agencies, research organisations, consultants, industry (car industry, manufacturers of alcohol interlocks, transport operators) and various public interest groups The consultation collected the views and opinions of stakeholders about the potential road safety benefits deriving from the use of alcohol interlock devices, and the possibility to adopt EU measures. The results of the consultation have been discussed and finalised at the stakeholders meeting held in Brussels on 1 July 2013. In addition to the stakeholder consultation, the consultants participated in various meetings and seminars: • The 121st Meeting of the European Commission Working Group on "Motor Vehicles"(MVWG), 04 February 2013, Brussels. The MVWG includes representatives from the European Commission, Member States, Accession Countries and European stakeholder organisations and associations. • The Nordic ignition interlock meeting, 12-13 March 2013, Oslo. The meeting was attended by representatives of governmental bodies only. The aim of the meeting was to exchange information and to learn from each other’s experience in working with alcohol interlock related issues. • The Safe and Sober workshop in the Belgian Federal Parliament in Brussels, 5 September 2013. This report contains the following chapters: Chapter 2 provides an analysis of the role of alcohol as a contributing factor in road accidents. Chapter 3 describes and analyses the experiences in Member States and third countries with the installation and use of alcohol interlock devices, and in which context the device is used (e.g. voluntary or mandatory use, part of a specific rehabilitation programme, means to obtain insurance benefits). Chapter 4 provides an overview of the different types of technical solutions for alcohol interlock devices (e.g. single breath sample, multiple breath sampling, remote sensing). For each of these technical solutions a qualitative (and if possible quantitative) evaluation of its advantages and disadvantages has been carried out, including aspects like installation and use, accuracy and precision, technical complexity, reliability, maintenance, cost and the risk of fraud to bypass the system. Chapter 4 also reviews the need for (additional) specific standardisation of alcohol interlock devices and for enabling the compatibility between vehicles and devices (e.g. facilitating applications with standard vehicle interface). Lastly, this chapter describes and analyses applied measures with regard to read-out of data, namely who is authorised to do so and the protection of privacy. Chapter 5 reviews the potential benefits for road safety and of the mandatory installation of alcohol interlock devices for all vehicles, for certain categories of vehicles and for certain categories of drivers. Chapter 6 presents alternative means to reduce drink-driving in road traffic and gives evidence of the effectiveness of these measures (e.g. of stronger enforcement). Chapter 7 provides the results of the stakeholder consultation on the use and effectiveness of alcohol interlocks in improving road safety. The analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of various policy options with respect to alcohol interlock devices is presented in Chapter 8. In chapter 9 an assessment is made of the costs and benefits of these policy options. Lastly, on the basis of the overview of advantages and disadvantage and the cost benefit analysis, chapter 10 provides conclusions concerning the adoption of EU measures on alcohol interlock devices. (Author/publisher)
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