Ignition Interlock Devices Are Saving Lives!

Ignition Interlock Devices Are Saving Lives! Close to 2 million individuals have been stopped from operating their vehicle while under the influence or intoxicated thanks to the Ignition Interlock Devices, required by the state, installed in their vehicle.

Breaking it down, percentage wise, one can imagine how many lives were saved from drunk drivers’ reckless decision to get behind the wheel.

The Ignition Interlock Device is a device that requires a driver to blow into a breathalyzer before they are able to start their vehicle. If the breathalyzer detects that a driver’s Blood Alcohol Level is above the state mandated .08, it will not allow the driver to start their vehicle.

According to the organization, Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD), these devices have prevented 1.77 million drivers from starting their vehicles.

Statistics have shown that those who have a blood alcohol level of .08 or above are more likely to lose control or their vehicle or make poor decisions when getting behind the wheel. The first decision being, sitting behind the wheel while alcohol travels through the blood.

With the Ignition Interlock Device, these drivers were prevented from starting their vehicle and possibly endangering the lives of several million individuals, including their own life.

That is almost 1% of the U.S. population.

MADD has also found that those who are convicted of a DUI or DWI, for the first time, have driven while drunk several times before finally being caught.

In addition to that, statistics have shown that those who have been required to install the Ignition Interlock Device are less likely to offend again once they have fulfilled their obligation and have the device removed.

These statistics show that heavy regulation and penalties on drunk drivers have been and are saving lives.

Another unfortunate statistic that MADD has found through the Ignition Interlock Device is that there were a large amount of drivers who were almost at the .08 Blood Alcohol Content. Meaning, they had, in fact, been drinking, but did not meet the state mandated .08. They still had alcohol in their system, which could still hinder their judgment while driving, but their vehicle allowed them to drive because they hadn’t met the .08 standard.

Overall, Ignition interlocks are effective in cutting down the repeat rate of drunk driving crimes more than 60% as the device is installed matched up to the license suspension only.

Interlocks help out in reduction of repeat offenses more than 35 % even after the device is removed as compared to crooks who in no way installed an interlock.

First-time offenders are severe criminals. Research indicates that first time offenders have driven drunk at least 80 times before they are arrested.

An interlock is more effective than license suspension alone, as 50 – 75 percent of convictecd drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.

It is due to legislations needing interlocks for all offended drunk drivers. The deaths of drunk drivers have declined identically and at an improved speed contrasting to the average national decline an average of 30% (50% in Arizona, alone).

People actually defend the Interlocks for all offended drunk drivers. Many surveys specify sturdy open support of ignition interlock for all offender drunk drivers.

License suspension laws led to a 9 percent reduction in drunk driving deaths during late night hours.

In effect, suspending someone’s license due to DWI or DUI is not as effective as installing an Interlock device. Statistics have shown that drivers will still drive drunk with a suspended license. The only thing that will prevent a drunk driver from driving is the Interlocking device that prevents their vehicle from starting if they are drunk. A suspended license will not be able to detect that.

The bottom line is that the requirement for Ignition Interlock devices to be installed in the vehicle of someone who has been convicted of a DUI or DWI has helped prevent more accidents and, as a result, more fatalities, then suspension alone.

Alcohol ignition locks have been adopted in 48 states; however, their use is only mandated in 14 states when one is convicted of driving with Blood Alcohol Level of .08 or above.

It is very important that more states implement this penalty to their drunk drivers as the evidence is clear that this is the most effective way to prevent fatalities due to drunk driving accidents.