Interlock Facts

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI) denounced a proposal that the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is pushing for this week at its annual meeting in Scottsdale which would mandate the installation of ignition interlock breathalyzers in the cars of low-BAC (blood alcohol concentration) first-time offenders.

GHSA has called for mandatory ignition interlocks for all offenders, claiming they would lead to a reduction in alcohol-related fatalities. This initiative, however, fails to target the actual drunk driving problem in America.

“By calling for mandatory breathalyzers for first time offenders, regardless of their BAC level, GHSA is ignoring the root cause of today’s drunk driving problem—hard core alcohol abusers,” said ABI Managing Director Sarah Longwell.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that the average BAC of a drunk driver in a fatal car crash is 0.18% -- twice the legal limit. Additionally, a NHTSA administrator has said that today’s problem is “by far and away” made up of “those who have alcohol use disorders.” Even former Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) president Katherine Prescott has made similar statements, saying that the drunk driving problem has been reduced to “a hard core of alcoholics who do not respond to public appeal.”

Yet GHSA’s proposal fails to target this dangerous population and instead will force first-time DUI offenders, even those just one sip over the legal limit, to install breathalyzers in their cars.

“With the nationwide drunk driving limit set at 0.08% BAC, this would mandate that drivers install a breathalyzer in their car for behavior that, according to numerous studies, impairs them less than driving while talking on a hands-free cell phone,” said Longwell. “A 120 pound woman can reach the 0.08% BAC level by having two glasses of wine in two hours. Should she receive the same punishment as someone with a 0.19% BAC level or multiple offenses?"