Citation

Robertson R, Marples I. Transp. Res. Circular 2009; (E-C132): 216-223.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, U.S. National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Technologies to reduce impaired driving may provide one opportunity to reduce offending among youth impaired drivers. Technologies designed to reduce and prevent alcohol-impaired driving have long been used to incapacitate, deter, and control alcohol consumption and drinking and driving among adult offenders. Two important examples of such technologies that are widely used are continuous alcohol monitoring, based on transdermal measures of alcohol consumption, and alcohol ignition interlocks, based on breath alcohol measures. The former involves a bracelet that is attached to offenders and monitors drinking behavior. It was introduced in 2003 and today is in use in more than 43 states in the U.S. The latter is a breath testing device linked to a vehicle’s ignition or other on-board system so as to require a zero or low BAC test before the vehicle can be started or operated. Alcohol interlocks are designed to separate drinking and driving as well as to monitor alcohol consumption. Interlocks have been in use for more than two decades and are applied in almost all jurisdictions in North America to drunk driving offenders as well as to a range of drivers in other jurisdictions around the world. This paper presents a brief discussion regarding ways in which these two important yet distinct technologies are beginning to be applied to youth.