Evaluation of a program to motivate impaired driving offenders to install ignition interlocks

Approximately 30,000 alcohol ignition interlocks, which are designed to prevent the operation of a vehicle if the driver has been drinking, are in use in the US and Canada. Ignition interlock programs are also being initiated in Sweden and Australia. The best-controlled studies that are currently av...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Accident analysis and prevention 2002-07, Vol.34 (4), p.449-455
Main Authors: Voas, Robert B., Blackman, Kenneth O., Tippetts, A.Scott, Marques, Paul R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents, Traffic - prevention & control
Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data
Adult
Alcoholic Intoxication
Automobile Driving - legislation & jurisprudence
Case-Control Studies
Crime - prevention & control
Crime - statistics & numerical data
Drunk driving
DUI
Female
Humans
Indiana
Interlocks
Male
Middle Aged
Protective Devices
Recidivism
Regression Analysis
Risk Factors
Sanctions
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Summary:Approximately 30,000 alcohol ignition interlocks, which are designed to prevent the operation of a vehicle if the driver has been drinking, are in use in the US and Canada. Ignition interlock programs are also being initiated in Sweden and Australia. The best-controlled studies that are currently available suggest that ignition interlocks are effective in reducing impaired driving recidivism while on the vehicle. However, in the US, the practical effectiveness of these devices is limited because only a small number of offenders are willing to install them in order to drive legally. This paper reports on a study of a court policy that created a strong incentive for impaired driving offenders to install interlocks by making traditional penalties, such as jail or electronically monitored house arrest, the alternative to participation in an interlock program. Comparison of the recidivism rates of offenders subject to this policy with offenders in similar, nearby courts, not using interlocks, indicated that the policy was producing substantial reductions in DUI recidivism.
ISSN:0001-4575
1879-2057
DOI:10.1016/S0001-4575(01)00042-2