Will this really stop accidents from drinking and driving?
By nanajanet
@nanajanet (4436)
United States
February 2, 2009 9:09pm CST
As some of you may know, my son died in 2004 due to a drunk driver. Unfortunately, the state I live in, Pennsylvania, has the highest rate of DUI deaths.
They are looking to have mandatory ignition interlocks put into cars where the driver must blow into a device that measures blood-alcohol content. If the level is too high, the car will not start.
Law enforcement officials, in the states where they use them, say that it DOES make a huge difference. Polls taken show that 64 percent of people think it should be mandatory for offenders.
Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said preventing people with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 and higher from driving could save an estimated 9,000 lives per year. About 1.4 million people are arrested for drunken driving each year in the US, with over 13,000 annual fatalities, but only about 100,000 interlock devices are in use.
Some people mistakenly think that the devices can be bypassed but Nicole Nason, chief of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says that they are not easy to defeat.
4 people like this
13 responses
@rakeshlalwani (320)
• India
3 Feb 09
Yes, if strickly actions taken on drunkers then surely accidents will comedown.
Bcoz of drinking lot of people suffer road accidents.
Rich peoples always drink and drive harshly on road, and they not think about poor peoples who walk and sleeping at roadside.
We also have to alert while drink and at roadside while walking.
2 people like this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
3 Feb 09
In the USA, how rich or poor you are does not matter, they all do it and it is sad.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
3 Feb 09
sorry to hear of you lost - tho it is long past due to say so
It is possible to by-pass them, we had a case a number of years ago where the man got his daughter (like 6) to blow in the device to start the car. He then proceeded to kill himself, her and his son. The ex-wife got charged because she let the children go with him knowing that he was drunk.
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Thank you for your kind words.
That is terrible that the kids were made to do that. I know it is not perfect, but many times they are alone and cannot drive and many times they are with people who will not do it.
I feel that anyone who allows someone to drive drunk should be charged, too. That would stop many bars from allowing people to leave and get into a car. If they made them turn in their keys and they had a breathalyzer at the bar, they could only get their keys back if they passed.
1 person likes this
@StrawberryKisses (2833)
• Canada
3 Feb 09
I think they should put it into EVERY vehicle in the world. If someone has never been caught drinking and driving doesn't mean they have not done it, they have just been lucky.
1 person likes this
@StrawberryKisses (2833)
• Canada
3 Feb 09
See right there I bet she had never been caught drinking and driving. I am sorry to hear all these stories.
@AmbiePam (92711)
• United States
3 Feb 09
By all means, I think this should be implemented as soon as possible. I can't see of a rational reason why they shouldn't be. Is some person worried about money? It would not only save lives, but money as well. Think of all the potential disasters it would avert that cost the taxpayer money, insurance companies money, and so on. But the chief reason would be to save lives. No one should have their life taken away like that. And I dare any politician to say they aren't needed.
1 person likes this
@belhaven14 (454)
• United States
4 Feb 09
I think that the device will be effective. Of course people will find ways to get around it. That is the nature of people. However, I think the device will be able to keep at least the borderline cases of drunk driving off the road. Those who think they are under the legal limit, but are over it will be kept off the roads. I think it is a great idea, and I hope they use it.
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
4 Feb 09
I have had people say to me that why bother, people will bypass it, but I say that if it saves ONE life, it was worth it. If it saves one family from the horrible grief, keeps one driver alive or out of jail so they do not devastate their family, it was worth it.
Nothing is 100%, there is no such thing as a perfect solution, but anything is an improvement over nothing.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
4 Feb 09
I am so sorry to hear you lost your son! There are a lot of fatalities where drunk driving is concerned. It's truely a shame for everyone involved. There should certainly be something done. I like to have a drink occasionally myself but not at anyones expense. I would never get behind the wheel and would truely be indebted to ant device that kept me from doing so if I were ever so impaired I couldn't make a choice. Mind you,I don't drink like that but if I did I sure wouldn't want to wake up the next day with a childs life on my shoulders and a grieving family that I ruined.I would advocate the device for sure! Somethimg needs to be done.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
3 Feb 09
They are too easily defeated. You can buy devices that blow air into the ignition locks.
1 person likes this
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
3 Feb 09
It sounds like a great idea and if it will save one life, it will be worth it.. I don't think that I could let go of the hate that I would feel for someone drinking and driving if one of my loved ones were kiled by them.. I hope they can pass this law, it might help tremendously and no more lives would be taken by drunk drivers..
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I have heard of this device many years ago and I am just wondering WHY this is still not in use throughout the world. What an easy way to help save lives.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
13 Feb 09
i think thats the best idea yet. after all i just found out that there are cars you dont need to put a key in the ignition. just have the key with you. my sons gf has one like that. she just pushes a button and it starts. its about time they do something. we are loosing to many loved ones over these stupid people that want to drink and then drive. its rediculus
@zandy985186 (434)
• China
3 Feb 09
Hi,friend.I am so sorry to hear that.And i think it is one of the important measures which reduces the traffic accident to forbid driving after drinking.And strictly to gain the driving license is another good way,too.
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Thank you. There needs to be more done and not just in my country.
@tudors (1556)
• China
3 Feb 09
So sorry to hear that, lady. Also,a friend of mine was hit seriously couple of days ago, just one day before the Chinese Spring Festival, which is the biggest event for every Chinese. Right now, she is still unconsious in hospital, her life is at stake. All this happened when she was crossing the street when a driver (i'm not sure whether he was drunk or not) rushed so wildly and hit her.
I believe over 99% of car accident are due to after-drink driving or overspeeding. Unfortunately, my government has done nearly nothing to this while yours has already on the move.
you see, in China, we even never heard the device you mentioned. what a big difference. Lucky you guys.
Hope you are all well.
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Thank you very much. I am also sorry about your friend and I will be praying for her to come out of this okay. I am happy that our government is trying to fix it but it is because of the voice of the people that they are doing it.
@techsavvy999 (178)
• India
3 Feb 09
I am sorry to hear about this. 80% of accidents are happening due to drinking and driving. I live in india. there is no standard and dynamic control over drunken driveers. There is no checking department. Police officials will sometimes check drivers. But how many police can work for the same issue. The basic solution is driver should have minimum commensense about this. Law should be strictly enforced. Special drive should be appoint by government.
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Here in the USA, there are many groups, like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, created by people who lost loved ones to such accidents. They have millions of members with strong voices and go to courts, politicians, hold rallies, get petitions signed, and so much more, to fight the government to be tougher and do something. They have gotten many laws implemented and it is better than it used to be but there is more that needs to be done.
1 person likes this
