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| Alcohol locks to go on trial in the EU.
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20/8/04 |
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Technology designed to prevent drink drivers from using their cars is to be fitted into cars of convicted drink drivers as part of a research project in a number of states in the EU.
Although already in use in a number of countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia and Sweden, the Alcohol Lock is now to be piloted in the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway and Spain and if successful could result in the introduction of new legislation.
The alcohol lock device fits into the car's ignition and the driver must take a breath test to check blood alcohol levels - if they are too high then the car will not start. The technology also includes a random testing function, which monitors the driver en route to make sure they have not consumed alcohol since starting the car. The device is expected to be set at a low threshold - around 20mg of alcohol per100ml of blood.
Volunteers are being given the opportunity of getting their licences back early, in return for taking part in the trial. According to official figures, about 20% of those convicted for drink/driving offences are repeat offenders and deaths from drink/driving have begun to climb after falling throughout the 1970s and 1980s in Europe.
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