Illinois and Arizona Now Require Alcohol Interlock Devices for DUI Drivers

Add Illinois and Arizona to the list of states that now require alcohol interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, according to a press release. Alcohol ignition interlocks are devices that require drivers to blow into a tube, similar to a breathalyzer. If the driver's alcohol level is above a pre-set blood alcohol content, the car will not start. Louisiana, New York, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania are all considering interlock laws.

The legislation was passed due in part to pressure from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD. "Alcohol ignition interlocks, when installed and monitored, save thousands of lives and help save society money in part by giving offenders the ability to drive without endangering the public," said MADD CEO Chuck Hurley. The legislation is part of MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, which was launched in Novemeber 2006 amid reports of rising drunk driving fatalities. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DUI fatalities jumped almost 3 percent to 13,990 in 2006, up from 13,13 the previous year. Overall traffic fatalities dropped by .3 percent, underscoring the increase in DUI related deaths.

New Mexico was the first state to develop mandatory alcohol interlock devices for all convicted drunk drivers, and the results show that the devices work in preventing road deaths. In the first year of the program, alcohol related injury crashes dropped by 20 percent and alcohol related crashes dropped by 17 percent.

In addition to pushing for the alcohol interlock devices, members of MADD's National Board of Directors are also meeting with members of Congress to help develop strategies that have been proven to work in reducing DUI related fatalities. "It's clear that more of the same will not help in the fight to make our roads safer," said MADD National President Glynn Birch. "We still have states without the most effective tools in place to deter and stop drunk driving -- sobriety checkpoints and ignition interlocks. These tools stop higher-risk offenders and first-time drunk drivers. There is no justification for not using the tools we know will save lives and prevent injuries." Almost 14,000 people were killed by drunk drivers with blood alcohol content of at least .08 percent last year. The statistics mark the highest number of drunk driving fatalities since 1992.

Other recommendations by MADD to reduce drunk driving include intensive high-visibility law enforcement, development of advanced vehicle technologies to prevent drunk driving and grassroots support led by MADD and its 400+ affiliates.

Source: Press Release: MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving Gains Momentum http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=3498998&view=LOCAL