Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has released a report on the number of times ignition interlocks have stopped drivers in America from starting their vehicles while drunk.
Over the past 14 years, ignition interlocks have stopped 3.78 million drunk driving attempts by a driver with at least a .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The report notes that ignition interlocks are underutilized in states with weak laws or loopholes that allow drunk drivers to avoid them and has assigned a grade to each state based on their ignition interlock laws.
The average state grade is an F. Arizona and New Mexico obtained the highest grade of an A-.
Currently, 34 states and Washington, DC, require ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders.
“MADD has known for a long time that we need technology to step in when people refuse to make the right choice to never drink and drive,” said MADD National President Alex Otte. “This report is proof that ignition interlocks work to stop people who have already driven drunk from repeating their dangerous choice. MADD is thankful for the lives saved and injuries prevented because these devices stopped someone who was drunk from driving.”
