Friday, June 07, 2013

Ignition Interlock Devices Are Keeping Drunks Off the Road

The average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before a first arrest.  While suspending the license of these individuals makes sense, in reality, three out of four people with a suspended license continue to drive, threatening the safety of you and your loved ones.  That’s why MADD supports requiring ignition interlock devices for all convicted drunk drivers, in order to prove they are sober before the car will start.

Requiring all convicted drunk drivers to use ignition interlocks to prove they are sober before they can start their vehicles has been shown to save lives and stop drunk driving. Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico and Louisiana have all seen a reduction in DUI deaths by 33 to 46 percent, largely due to these comprehensive laws requiring all drunk drivers to receive an interlock.


(The above comes from a recent Mothers Against Drunk Driving update.)

As regular visitors to Vital Signs Blog know, I am very interested and supportive of any and all actions that would reduce the tragic anguish and death caused by drunk drivers. I support these life-saving, cost-saving, common-sense measures for several reasons...but the primary ones are that I am a pro-life activist and I lost my father at age 68 when his car was hit by a drunk driver.

Here are just a few of the related posts from Vital Signs Blog on this critical matter:

How's This for an Idea? Stopping the Drunk Driver BEFORE He Kills Someone.

Every 50 Minutes, Someone Is Killed By a Drunk Driver

Drunk Driving Hurts Us All -- And Kills Some Of Us Stone Dead

Saving Lives Through Simple Technology

For the War Against Drunk Driving, Specialized DWI Courts Needed Now.