Options to extend coverage of alcohol interlock programs

Despite high levels of community education and sustained enforcement, alcohol-related crashes and drink-driving offences continue to pose a threat to road safety. Alcohol interlock programs are one element of enforcement. High-range, repeat or other serious drink-driving offenders can be required to fit alcohol interlocks to their vehicles. The interlock is an electronic breath-testing device that prevents the car from starting if alcohol is detected. This report examines the evidence base and develops options to extend the coverage of alcohol interlock programs to: a wider segment of drink-driving offenders; other high-risk groups; corporate fleets; and if appropriate, the broader driving population on a voluntary basis. The report assesses where additional road safety benefit could be gained over and above existing strategies to mitigate the frequency and consequences of drink-driving. This report presents an overview of current Australasian drink-driving legislation and alcohol interlock program requirements. It identifies gaps in current alcohol interlock programs in Australasia and overseas, identifies opportunities to expand alcohol interlock programs and assesses whether evidence shows a need to expand their coverage given rates of alcohol-related crashes and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) offences. The report examines published evaluations of alcohol interlock programs so as to understand their effectiveness and to assist in making recommendations as to how current programs could be modified, expanded, or tailored to specific driver/rider groups. A review of current and future alcohol interlock technology builds an understanding of system specification, cost and device calibration issues that impact driver and community acceptance. This review, as well as an examination into community attitudes to the expansion of alcohol interlock devices, helps to identify options to expand current alcohol interlock programs.

• Record URL:
  https://www.onlinepublications.austroads.com.au/items/AP-R495-15
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9781925294750
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Austroads Project SS1754
• Corporate Authors:

  Austroads

  Suite 2, Level 9, 287 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia
  Sydney, New South Wales   
• Authors:
  • Fitzharris, M
  • Liu, S
  • Peiris, S
  • Devlin, A
  • Young, K
  • Lenne, M
  • Bowman, D
  • Gatof, J
• Publication Date: 2015-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 163p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol ignition interlock devices; Blood alcohol levels; Drivers; Drunk driving; Evaluation; Intoxication; Legislation; Literature reviews; Offenders; Public opinion
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Blood alcohol content; Drink driving; Evaluation; Ignition interlock; Legislation; Literature review; Offender; Public opinion
• ITRD Terms: 1553: Blood alcohol content; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 1511: Immobilization (veh)
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01578443
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 9781925294750
• Report/Paper Numbers: AP-R495-15
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 22 2015 9:46AM