Ignition interlocks reduce driving-while-impaired offences

Washington, Feb 12 : A recent study has found that vehicle interlocks, devices that prevent vehicle's ignition from starting if the driver is above a preset blood alcohol limit, can drastically reduce driving-while-impaired (DWIs) offences among first-time offenders.

The researchers examined the records of 1,461 first time DWI offenders of New Mexico, who had interlocks installed in their vehicles and compared them to 17,562 first offenders who didn't use the devices.

"We found that first-time offenders who had interlock devices were 60 percent less likely to have a repeat offense than those who did not use interlock devices," said Paul Marques, PhD, with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation

"This study on first-time offenders reinforces prior studies on this issue that show a 65 percent reduction in drunk driving while interlocks are installed," he added.

Marques believe that these interlocks would help in changing the behaviour of the offenders rather than simply punishing or putting them behind the bars.

ANI