People who have been convicted of DUI and DWIs aren’t always the evil villains they are often portrayed as. They are people just like you and I, and they made a horrible mistake than can change their lives, and others lives forever. Preventing these horrible acts can be difficult for some because of their problem, but installing an ignition interlock device on their vehicle can help stop this crime from happening and save a life.
The annual cost of crashes caused by alcohol is around $60 billion. Think about how much higher that number would be if interlock devices did not exist. There are over 150,000 interlock systems in cars in the United States, and the proof is there, they work. For repeat offenders, interlock devices help reduce DUI/DWI by 39% compared to those offenders who don’t have a device on their vehicles.
Why risk putting yourself in a bad situation? Whether you are an offender or not, these devices can prevent you from doing something that could ruin your life. The technology has advanced with these devices as well, there are very discreet breathalyzers you can install in your vehicle so not everyone will notice them. Interlock cups are a great way of discreetly implementing an interlocking system into your vehicle because they look like any other thermos.
Interlock devices are typically set to prohibit the engine from starting if the blood alcohol content (BAC) registers above 0.02, and when installed, there is a 70% reduction in arrest rates for impaired driving. There is a chance that interlocking devices will become mandatory in all vehicles and it is assumed they will be set below the legal limit of 0.08 BAC, they will most likely be set to 0.03 or 0.04 BAC.
People will surely complain if interlock systems are required in all vehicles, but something needs to be done. This is an epidemic. Because of drunk driving, 28 people die every day in the United States. You should do everything possible to prevent this horrible act from happening to you, your family, friends, and anyone else who is about to make an impaired decision that could ruin their life and end one that belonged to someone else.
