Road Safety

Despite high levels of community education and sustained enforcement, alcohol-related crashes and drink-driving offences continue to pose a threat to road safety.

Alcohol interlock programs are one element of enforcement. High-range, repeat or other serious drink-driving offenders can be required to fit alcohol interlocks to their vehicles. The interlock is an electronic breath-testing device that prevents the car from starting if alcohol is detected.

This report examines the evidence base and develops options to extend the coverage of alcohol interlock programs to: a wider segment of drink-driving offenders; other high-risk groups; corporate fleets; and if appropriate, the broader driving population on a voluntary basis.

The report assesses where additional road safety benefit could be gained over and above existing strategies to mitigate the frequency and consequences of drink-driving.

This report presents an overview of current Australasian drink-driving legislation and alcohol interlock program requirements. It identifies gaps in current alcohol interlock programs in Australasia and overseas, identifies opportunities to expand alcohol interlock programs and assesses whether evidence shows a need to expand their coverage given rates of alcohol-related crashes and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) offences.

The report examines published evaluations of alcohol interlock programs so as to understand their effectiveness and to assist in making recommendations as to how current programs could be modified, expanded, or tailored to specific driver/rider groups. A review of current and future alcohol interlock technology builds an understanding of system specification, cost and device calibration issues that impact driver and community acceptance. This review, as well as an examination into community attitudes to the expansion of alcohol interlock devices, helps to identify options to expand current alcohol interlock programs.