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Ignition Interlock Devices Provide Huge Benefits for Offenders

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A study has been conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The study found that in the situation of a driver being convicted for their first-time drunk driving offense, the driver is much less likely to commit another offense if he or she has an ignition interlock device (IID) in his or her vehicle.

This finding gives hope to all drivers who have been convicted of drunk driving as a way to prevent further offenses.

What is an ignition interlock device?

An IID is a piece of equipment that acts as a breath testing unit. The unit must be blown into by the driver before he or she starts up the vehicle. If the IID measures above a certain level, the vehicle will not start.

Will ignition interlocks become mandatory?

There has been legislation presented to Congress with the argument that all states should make it mandatory for all those convicted of drunk driving to have ignition interlock devised in their vehicles. It was seen as a win-win scenario -- the roads will be made safer and those convicted would be less likely to offend.

Opponents have argued that IIDs should only be mandatory for those who have multiple convictions, and for those who have a registered blood alcohol concentration of .15 percent and above. A counterargument to this is that almost one-third of fatal crashes are caused by impaired drivers with BACs below .15 percent.

Regardless of the legislation currently in place, the studies show clearly that IIDs are a tested way to prevent a repeat drunk driving conviction.

Source: Automotive fleet, "Study Underscores Benefits of Ignition Interlock Devices for First-Time Offenders," accessed Aug. 23, 2017

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