‘Alcolocks’ on cars to curb drink-driving

DEVICES that can detect if a driver has been drinking could be fitted in cars as early as next year.

Plans for ‘ alcolocks’, which prevent the car starting if the driver has been drinking, come amid a worrying rise in the number of drink-driving crashes. The Government is also considering producing more accurate roadside breathalysers in an attempt to reduce the number of drivers disputing the readings. Ministers could put the changes in places before 2022.

The latest Department for Transport figures show that there were 5,890 crashes recorded in 2018 in which at least one driver was over the limit – a rise of 3 per cent in 12 months.

And 8,680 people were either killed or injured in crashes involving a drink-driver, up 1 per cent compared with a year earlier.

However, there was a slight decline in the number of drink- driving deaths. These were down from 250 in 2017 to 240 in 2018.

The Government will investigate fitting ‘alcolocks’ – also known as ignition interlock devices – in cars owned by those who have previously been convicted of repeated drink-driving offences.

Such devices, which have been adopted in some other countries, can measure the alcohol in a driver’s breath when they enter the car.

If they are over the limit, the car will not start when the key is put in the ignition or the dashboard starting switch is operated. Alcolocks are already fitted on National Express coaches, after the company installed the devices on more than 500 of its vehicles following a twoyear trial.

The move followed the jailing of a National Express driver in 2008 after his coach crashed and overturned on the M1. He was found to be over the limit. Campaigners believe that the latest figures will put the Government under further pressure to cut the drink-driving limit, which in most of the UK is the highest in Europe.

The limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. Motorists are likely to be over the limit if they drink two pints of lager or two standard glasses of wine.

In Scotland the limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. It was cut by the Scottish Government in 2014.

Nicholas Lyes, head of policy at the RAC, said it wanted to know what progress is being made by the Government on the introduction of alcolocks.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘ Drinkdriving is truly unacceptable. It is a senseless act that puts everyone at risk.

‘These new statistics show that four in five drink-drivers who caused accidents were male. That’s why we are focusing our work on young male drivers, with our award-winning “Think!’’ campaign highlighting that mates don’t let mates drink-drive.’