Can Ignition Interlock Devices Prevent Georgia Drunk Driving Deaths?

An ignition interlock device is a breath-testing machine, similar to a Breathalyzer, which is connected to a car's ignition. Before starting the vehicle, the driver must blow into the device. If the device registers a blood alcohol reading below a predetermined level, the car will start. If the blood alcohol reading exceeds that level, the interlock will prevent the car from starting.
Fifteen states require that all driving under the influence (DUI) offenders have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle. In Georgia, only repeat DUI offenders must have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle. The device is usually required for the first six months after the driver’s license is reinstated. However, if a driver has a high blood alcohol content, causes a Georgia drunk driving accident, or shows other signs of being a danger to the public, then a judge may order an ignition interlock device be installed on the vehicle of a first-time offender.
The Center for Disease Control believes that a mandatory ignition interlock is the best way to reduce Georgia drunk driving deaths. Studies have found that drivers convicted of DUI are sixty-five percent less likely to commit another alcohol-related traffic violation within the first year following their arrest if an ignition interlock device is installed in their vehicle. However, some of the studies have found that once the ignition interlock device is removed, the driver is just as likely as any convicted drunk driver to commit a second offence.
Almost one-third of fatal accidents involve alcohol. Atlanta DUI injury attorney Shane Smith wrote a book for victims of Georgia drunk driving crashes. Click on the sidebar to request your free copy of I Was Hit By A Drunk Driver: What Do I Do Next? To discuss a Georgia drunk driving death or injury, contact Shane Smith at 866-979-1629.