The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, PACTS, is urging the Government to introduce alcohol interlocks , known as “alcolocks”, as soon as possible for drivers convicted of drink driving.

In a new report, it says this would reduce the high level of reoffending and cut the number of deaths and injuries that result.

Alcohol interlocks require the driver to blow into a breath-testing instrument connected to the vehicle ignition system before the vehicle will start. If the device detects alcohol over the limit, the vehicle will not start, preventing drink driving. The alcohol concentration level for the test is normally set close to zero.

The report – Locking out the drink driver – finds that one on six drink driving offences is committed by a reoffender. The current reliance on media campaigns, penalties, driving bans and police enforcement is enough to deter reoffending. Nor is it enough to bring down the number of deaths from drink driving – 240 each year, which has not changed since 2010.

PACTS looked at the use of alcohol interlocks around the world and found that they are “significantly more effective” than licence disqualification at reducing reoffending. If, PACTS says, they are combined with rehabilitation courses, the benefits can last long after the device is removed. The report recommends that the courts are given powers to offer or mandate alcohol interlocks for as many drink drivers. The courts might reduce the period of licence disqualification for those offenders who agree to a device being fitted. This reduction in disqualification period should not apply to drivers convicted of a “causing harm” offence, such as causing death or serious injury by drink driving.

The report suggests offenders should be responsible for the costs of the interlock programme – typically around £1,000 a year, against estimated £70,000 possible costs for loss of job, legal fees, fines, increased insurance premiums and the cost of public transport from a drink drive conviction. It suggests savings to society in avoiding some 240 deaths and 1,400 serious injuries a year where a driver is over the legal limit are substantial.

The report lists the scale of the issue: 

• Drink driving is one of the biggest causes of road deaths (13%)
• In the last decade 240 people have been killed each year where a driver was over the limit; a further 1,400 (approximately) are seriously injured.
• Nearly one in six (17%) drink drive offences is committed by a reoffender
• The coronavirus pandemic has seen an increase in the number of people with alcohol and mental health issues
• Police cuts have dramatically reduced drink driving enforcement
• It is time for the drink drive limit in England and Wales to be reduced

Reoffending is a major concern: 

• Since 2010, 32,025 people committed a drink drive offence with a previous drink/drug drive offence on their record
• 107,913 drink drive offences were committed by someone with a previous drink/drug driving offence on their record
• Eight people were convicted of causing death by careless driving when unfit through drink/with alcohol level above the limit with a previous drink/drug offence on their record.
• One driver was charged with driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above the limit with 8 previous drink/drug drive offences on their record. One person committed the offence ‘driving or attempting to drive with drug level above the specified limit’ when they had 18 previous drink- and drug-driving offences.
• Studies have found that alcohol interlocks reduce reoffending by around 60-75%

Commenting on the report, David Davies, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said, “We were shocked to find that one in six drink driving offences is committed by someone previously convicted. Since 2010, this amounts to over 100,000 offences – each of which is highly dangerous to the driver and other road users. Clearly the current system is not adequate.

“A number of other countries have introduced alcohol interlocks to prevent repeat drink driving and to bring down the number of deaths and injuries that result. Alcohol interlocks have proved highly effective. PACTS is calling on the government to give UK courts the powers to impose them without delay.”

(Picture – alcolockgb.com)