‘Alcolock’ plans to keep drink drivers off roads
DEVICES that would prevent cars from starting if the driver is over the drink-drive limit are being considered, it emerged yesterday.
“Alcolocks” can measure the alcohol in a driver’s breath and disable the vehicle if necessary.
The Government wants to introduce a raft of new measures to reduce the number of people drink-driving.
Figures published by the Department for Transport revealed there were 5,890 crashes recorded in 2018 in which at least one driver was over the limit, a rise of three per cent in 12 months.
And 8,680 people were killed or injured in a crash involving a drunk driver – up one per cent on the previous year.
Ministers are examining the case for “alcolocks” in cars owned by people previously convicted of a drink-driving offence.
The devices, already widespread in other parts of the world, can prevent the car from starting. “Alcolocks” will be capable of officially recording illegally high levels before drivers have the chance to sober up.
The current breathalyser is a screening device – insufficient for prosecution – meaning that drivers normally have to be taken to a police station for a blood or urine test. The new measures could be introduced as early as next year. More accurate roadside breathalysers are also being developed.
Nicholas Lyes, head of policy at the RAC, said: “These are disappointing figures which illustrate the need for much more to be done to curb the plague of drink-driving.
“The Government has indicated it is looking at the possibility of introducing ‘alcolock’ technology to prevent reoffenders from getting behind the wheel, so we’d like to know what progress is being made here.This, together with more police on our roads conducting breathalyser tests, could go a long way to cutting drink-drive deaths in the future.”
Transport chiefs also said too many men drink and drive, with 80 per cent of accidents involving male drivers or riders over the legal limit.
The figures published yesterday also showed a slight decline in the number of drink-driving deaths – from an estimated 250 in 2017 to 240 a year later. A Department for Transport spokeswoman said:
“Drink-driving is truly unacceptable. It’s 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’re focusing our work on young male drivers, with our award-winning Think! campaign highlighting that mates don’t let mates drink-drive.”
In all, the figures for drink-driving accidents, injuries and deaths have largely flatlined since 2010, halting a trend in the previous four decades when rates were in almost continual decline.