Ignition Interlock

[andygates]

Riddle me this: A law is passing through California legislature requiring drunk-drivers to have ignition interlock devices fitted to their cars.  Ignition interlock is basically a breathalyzer that you have to pass before the ignition will work.  Sounds great to us squishies: drunks are left where they can't hurt and scare folks, and most of the time everyone in a group is drunk if the driver is so "Hey Fred, breathe into this" is a weak counter (and would attract bonus special sanctions).

Now, here's the thing: According to the article, ignition interlock appeared on the scene in 1987.  And the current law will only start a pilot in 2010 with California-wide coverage in 2016 assuming it isn't banjaxed by politics et al.

My question is this:  Why the hell aren't these mandatorily installed at the factory?  Why the hell haven't we got them over here? 

Comments

[maythen-apple.livejournal.com]

American laws against drunk driving are startlingly lenient. We're a very pro-ETOH culture that gives a tremendous amount of "everybody does it" power to alcohol.

As a nurse (and child of a volunteer EMT) I'm Very Down on drunk driving, but it's a common occurance here. The worst part is they usually don't kill themselves, just everybody else.

I wasn't aware the blower thing wasn't available in other countries. It's a rare punishment here, usually only the worst repeat offenders get it, and it's expensive to have installed.

[calum]

Unfortunately, they dont work very well. They tend to produce false positives, leaving someone unable to drive. This has been used to challenge them in court.

I think a wider trial is a good plan, would let them iron out some of the bugs.. bring the price down, etc..

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Maybe in combination with a Brain Training user interface? ;)

[simoneck.livejournal.com]

0.1% failure rate (just used mouthwash?) would mean a lot of very annoyed voters.
And I'll bet across the population a bunch of simple ways around them would soon circulate...a small set of bellows maybe, or a balloon filled while sober.
If people want to drink drive, they will.

Local 18 year old recently killed. Two of her friends tried to stop her from driving, but she fought to get her keys back off them, before proceeding to kill herself and a passenger.

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

a small set of bellows maybe, or a balloon filled while sober

Can of compressed air? Bike pump? Yoga ball inflator?

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Fucktard.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

"If people want to drink drive, they will."

The same was said about dodging seatbelts. Seatbelts have near-universal adoption. If something is really plain good, and pitched well, only a tiny minority will flout it.

There's no such thing as perfect compliance in anything.

Mind you, 0.1% is a bit weak. Maybe the reason for the new trial is some new tech?

[simoneck.livejournal.com]

a seatbelt is very different. It's a mild inconvenience and protects YOU in an accident.

Most people don't drink and drive, so forcing them to blow into a tube that may not allow them to drive (when that 0.1% error turns up) before every journey and pay for the privilege, all in the knowledge that the scum that drink drive can (probably) easily bypass the system isn't going to be very popular. I'm not sure why you think it's really plain good.

I think it's like the new CRB checks thing. It's an inconvenience to a large number of people, creates extra expense, tarnishes everyone with the same brush, and will have very little impact on the people you are trying to target.