Riverland Alcohol Ignition Interlock Trial

摘要

This report describes a trial of alcohol ignition interlock devices. The trial211u001eran for six months, from March to September 1998 and was conducted in the 211u001eRiverland district of South Australia. Alcohol ignition interlock devices are 211u001efitted to the ignition system of motor vehicles. They require a breath sample to 211u001ebe given in a similar way to roadside enforcement programs, after which they 211u001eanalyze the breath sample for its alcohol concentration. If the reading is below 211u001eset legal limits, the device allows the driver to start the engine. If the sample 211u001ebreath is above the legal limits, the engine will not start, thus not allowing 211u001ethe driver to move the vehicle. Drivers are also required to be re-tested at 211u001erandom intervals when travelling. In the trial these devices were fitted to the 211u001evehicles of 24 volunteers. The trial was designed to identify administrative and 211u001etechnical issues that need to be addressed before a full-scale use of alcohol 211u001eignition interlocks can be considered. Volunteers and their families gave useful 211u001eadvice on the operation and advantages of interlocks and also provided some ideas 211u001ethat need to be considered before full-scale use is introduced.