NTSB: Use ignition locks for all drunken drivers

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By JOAN LOWY

WASHINGTON (AP) - Every state should require all convicted drunken drivers, including first-time offenders, to use devices that prevent them from starting a car's engine if their breath tests positive for alcohol, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday.

The ignition interlock devices - already required for all convicted drunken drivers in 17 states - are the best currently available solution to reducing drunken driving deaths, which account for about a third of the nation's more than 32,000 traffic deaths a year, the board said.

Drivers breathe into breathalyzers mounted on the vehicle's dashboard. If their breath-alcohol concentration is greater than the device's programmed limit - usually a blood alcohol concentration of .02 percent or .04 percent - then the engine won't start.

The board also urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to speed up its research effort with automakers to develop systems that can determine a driver's blood alcohol concentration using infrared light when the driver presses an ignition button. The vehicle won't start if the alcohol concentration is too high.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20121211/DA33N2E00.html

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This photo taken Aug. 11, 2011, provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), shows damage to wrong-way vehicle from the Dallas. Hundreds of people are killed each a year when drivers turn the wrong-way into the face of oncoming traffic on high-speed highways, and a majority of the crashes involves drivers with blood alcohol levels more than twice the legal limit, a federal accident researcher said Tuesday. (AP Photo/NTSB)

[kirby]

1. How does this help reduce accidents?

People commonly ask someone else to blow into the tube. Perhaps it would help if everyone was drunk in the car and there is no passer by.

I recall seeing one of those 'What would you do?' shows where for $5 many passers by would blow into the device for someone who was acting as overtly drunk.

[ROBROX]

3. TRUTH WITH A CAPITAL "T"

I think people who drink would have someone blow into the device or an air supply which could provide air to activate the device. People who drink have plenty of time to find a solution to their problems as they drink and think. This is also not a solution to poor people since the electronic system costs money which most alcoholics normally do not have to spare.

[Atypical Liberal]

2. I think this is a great idea. n/t

[smccarter]

4. Blah blah blah di frickin' blah....

Goh-damm effin' MADD bullshee-ite...

Either prohibit the demon drink or shut the eff up.....

I agree that irresponsible users of the demon drink cause accidents. But FAR more accidents are caused by MOTHERS WHO DRIVE WHILE TALKING ON THE GODDAMM CELL PHONE.... FAR FAR MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dammit.

I dodge the cell phone using idiots every friggin' day.

I'm not saying that drunk driving is a good thing... but let's put things into perspective. There are FAR more issues on the road than the demon drink! Drink is an issue... but NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!!!!!!

GET OFF THE PHONE AND PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING...... DAMMITTTT!!!!!!!!

FUCKING IDIOTS.

[Xithras]

5. Nope, DUI is still far more dangerous than texting.

In 2011, 9,878 people were killed in drunk driving accidents (NTSB numbers). At the same time, 995 people were killed nationwide in accidents where cellphone use was identified as a factor.

Cellphones are certainly dangerous, but they don't kill nearly as many people as drunks do. Ten times less, in fact.