Citation

Mercier-Guyon C, Vanlaar WGM. Vis. Zero Int. 2010; 2010(Jan): 62-64.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, UKIP Media)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Alcohol interlocks have been used for convicted drunk driving offenders since the 1980s. However, their use is being expanded to commercial drivers in order to promote driver safety. This article describes how alcohol interlocks are being used in commercial settings, especially for buses, in several countries throughout the world. In 2000, the Swedish Road Authority sponsored a demonstration project of 300 alcohol interlocks in commercial vehicles. This early project quickly expanded into a program of more than 40,000 alcohol interlocks in commercial vehicles in Sweden. After noting the success of the Swedish project, France recently passed legislation mandating the use of alcohol interlocks for all school buses. Bus manufacturers are integrating alcohol interlocks in new buses and aftermarket installers are retrofitting older buses. Other European countries are introducing or studying similar regulations. Although some Asian and South American countries are embracing alcohol interlocks for commercial vehicles, in the United States the general response at the federal level has been that passenger transportation is already highly regulated and safe without an alcohol interlock mandate.