Interlocks - their role in

reducing drink driving

Dr Andrew ClaytonRSN Associates

Interlocks - their role in reducing drink-driving

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Andrew ClaytonRSN Associates

About my presentationAbout my presentation

• A short history of drink drivingA short history of drink driving

• How interlocks can help reduce the How interlocks can help reduce the problemproblem

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1967 Road Safety Act1967 Road Safety Act

A social revolution

Barbara Castle MP

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A very unfeminine actWife of rugby footballer

The most pernicious piece of anti-democratic legislation ever passed

A publican

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What are interlocks?What are interlocks?

• Devices that “stop drunks driving cars”Devices that “stop drunks driving cars”

• Immobilisers linked to breathalysersImmobilisers linked to breathalysers

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The system in practiceThe system in practice

<=20mg/100ml* Car starts

>20mg/100ml Car doesn’t start

Driver then ‘locked out’ for a specific time

Driver provides breath sample

* Machines can be preset to any value

Examples of interlock useExamples of interlock use

• In commercial programmesIn commercial programmes– Compulsory for new school buses in Compulsory for new school buses in

FranceFrance

– Voluntary use in many EU countries incl UKVoluntary use in many EU countries incl UK

• In judicial programmesIn judicial programmes– Widely in N America and AustraliaWidely in N America and Australia

– Small, but growing, use in EuropeSmall, but growing, use in Europe

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Key elements for successKey elements for success

All programmesAll programmes

•Systems to prevent ‘cheating’Systems to prevent ‘cheating’

•Flexible settings to suit usageFlexible settings to suit usage

•Records to monitor behaviourRecords to monitor behaviour

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Judicial programmes

•Install asap after offenceInstall asap after offence

•Counselling / support serviceCounselling / support service

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Discussing the dataDiscussing the data

DfT’s view on InterlocksDfT’s view on Interlocks

• These schemes are very difficult to These schemes are very difficult to manage. manage.

• Offenders can get round the lock by Offenders can get round the lock by changing the car they drive. changing the car they drive.

• We are also not persuaded as to We are also not persuaded as to their effectiveness in changing long-their effectiveness in changing long-term behaviour. term behaviour.

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DfT’s view on InterlocksDfT’s view on Interlocks

• These schemes are very difficult to These schemes are very difficult to manage. manage.

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DfT’s own Demonstration Project showed that they were relatively easy to manage

DfT’s view on InterlocksDfT’s view on Interlocks

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Is that easier or more difficult than driving a car whilst disqualified?

DfT’s view on InterlocksDfT’s view on Interlocks

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Do interlock programs Do interlock programs work?work?

• When the interlock program is a part When the interlock program is a part of a monitoring and accompanying of a monitoring and accompanying framework, the recidivism rate stays framework, the recidivism rate stays 2 or 3 times below that of programs 2 or 3 times below that of programs based on only “hard control”, even based on only “hard control”, even several years after removal. several years after removal.

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ICADTS Working Group on AIID Oslo 2010

DfT’s view on InterlocksDfT’s view on Interlocks

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A final thoughtA final thought

• Should we simply punish all Should we simply punish all drink/drive offenders? drink/drive offenders?

OROR

• Should we extend current “support Should we extend current “support programs” to include interlocks for programs” to include interlocks for some/all categories of offenders?some/all categories of offenders?

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Thank youThank you

Andrew ClaytonAndrew Clayton

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www.roadsafetynet.com

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