Study shows public attitudes support mandatory ignition interlocks
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A new Injury Center article reports that 7 out of 10 U.S. adults support requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted DWI (driving while intoxicated) offenders, including first-time offenders. Based on a survey of more than 4,000 adults, the article also found that support for the policy was lowest (38%) among people who reported drinking and driving in the last month. Ignition interlocks are installed in motor vehicles to prevent a driver who has a blood alcohol concentration above a specified level from operating the vehicle. They require the driver to blow into a machine that measures the amount of alcohol in exhaled air, and if the level is above a certain limit, the car will not start. The devices greatly reduce the rate of DWI re-arrest while they are on offenders’ vehicles. They are widely used in other countries, including Sweden. Access the full article, “Attitudes towards requiring ignition interlocks for all driving while intoxicated offenders: findings from the 2010 HealthStyles Survey,” by Ruth A. Shults, PhD, MPH, and Gwen Bergen, PhD, at www.injuryprevention.bmj.com.
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