The interlock industries

Auto Industry

The ultimate goal is to get automobile manufacturers to install one form of technology or another.”

Profile of Ohio MADD Executive Director Doug Scoles

Auto manufacturers are working on technology which will prevent all drivers from starting their vehicles if they have been drinking… MADD would support this idea.”

Carol McNamee, founder of MADD-Hawaii

Automobile manufacturers (who make cars that will reach 200 mph) have been longtime supporters of MADD and are now funding the campaign to place interlocks in all cars. General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Porsche are all putting money toward the automotive coalition which is sponsoring the DADSS project.

In May, Robert Strassburger of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers—whose members include the above car companies—testified before a Congressional subcommittee in favor of allotting $30 million annually to the development of universal interlock technology.[1] Strassburger frequently gives presentations on MADD’s campaign and the universal technology development project (DADSS.org).[2]

In addition, Toyota, Nissan, Volvo, and Saab have been developing interlock technology for all new models.

Auto manufacturers have a history of playing nice with MADD to avoid being criticized, singled out and targeted for new regulations on speeding and crash safety. That’s why individual car companies and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers are among the biggest donors to MADD’s $50 million annual operating budget.[3]

And the new interlock technology would likely allow manufacturers to boost the price of a new car.

For auto companies, it’s a win-win. For drivers, unfortunately, it’s a lose-lose.

  1. Statement of the alliance of automobile manufacturers before the subcommittee on commerce, trade, and consumer protection of the committee on energy and commerce U.S. House of Representatives PDF
  2. Stars Wars Meets Drunk Driving: The Role of Technology in Eliminating Drunk Driving PDF
  3. MADD Platinum Sponsors
    and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Annual Report Fiscal Year 2006 - 2007, page 12 PDF