Stopping Drunk Drivers With Ignition Breathalyzers
Drunk driving is a major problem on the roads throughout the year. The authorities have focused on using penalties to deter people from drinking and driving. As is usually the case, penalties only go so far. The good news is technology might be stepping up to the plate.
The number of people killed because of drunk drivers was just over 13,000 in 1996. Ten years later, the number was also just over 13,000. During this period, the states have passed varying laws designed to increase the punishment for drunk driving. The punishments often include high fines, loss of driving license and a term in jail. As the numbers show, however, the nastier penalties simply haven’t worked to reduce the number of fatalities.
We are a technology driven society these days. From iPhones to the latest gadgets, we look to technology to make our lives easier. Well, what if this idea was applied to drunk driving? It is. The concept is known as the ignition breathalyzer. It has been around for a while, but is starting to get more support as a means for fighting the drunk driving problem.
So, what is an ignition breathalyzer? Well, there can be no claim of false advertising with this device. It is a breathalyzer hooked up to your ignition. You have to blow into it before the car will start. It is about the size of a cell phone. If your blood alcohol content reads to high, the ignition simply will not turn over and you can’t get behind the wheel. Well, at least the wheel of a moving car.
There is an obvious loophole with a device like this. What if someone else takes the breath test besides the driver? It is a possibility. To try to prevent this, the system also requires that tests be taken every so often at preset intervals. This greatly minimizes the problem. If a second or third breath test is found to have excessive alcohol intake, the car does not turn off for safety reasons. Instead, the lights begin to flash and the horn starts honking obnoxiously.
Only a few states such as California currently mandate the use of ignition breathalyzers. This only occurs when a court finds a defendant is a repeat offender. Before being allowed to drive again, the defendant is required to install one of the devices at their own cost. Empirical studies have shown this greatly reduces the number of offenses, although it does not eliminate them entirely.
