Search
Advanced Search
Translate
Share|
spacer.gif CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Reducing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Ignition InterlocksCdc spacer.gif
 
Ranking Evidence-Based Practice
Description Ignition interlocks are devices that can be installed in motor vehicles to prevent operation of the vehicle by a driver who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above a specified level (usually 0.02% - 0.04%). Interlocks are most often installed in vehicles of people who have been convicted of alcohol-impaired driving to give them an opportunity to drive legally.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends the use of ignition interlocks for people convicted of alcohol-impaired driving on the basis of strong evidence of their effectiveness in reducing re-arrest rates while the interlocks are installed. Public health benefits of the intervention are currently limited by the small proportion of offenders who install interlocks in their vehicles. More widespread and sustained use of interlocks among this population could have a substantial impact on alcohol-related crashes.
Results / Accomplishments Results from the Systematic Reviews:
The Task Force recommendation was based on results from two systematic reviews that considered a total of 15 studies.

• While interlocks were installed, re-arrest rates decreased by a median of 67% relative to comparison groups (13 studies). This estimate is based on all of the available studies that reported separate results for re-arrests during the interlock installation period.
• When interlocks were removed, re-arrest rates reverted to rates similar to those of persons convicted of alcohol-impaired driving who had not used interlocks (11 studies).
• Drivers with interlocks installed had fewer alcohol-related crashes than those who had licenses suspended for an alcohol-impaired driving conviction (1 study).
• Overall crash rates for drivers with interlocks were similar to those for the general driving population. Drivers with ignition interlocks, however, had a substantially greater number of crashes overall than did drivers with suspended licenses. This is likely because those with ignition interlocks drove more than those with suspended licenses (2 studies).
Categories Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Substance Abuse
Public Safety / Transportation Safety
Source Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location Country: USA
Primary Contact communityguide@cdc.gov
For more details http://www.thecommunityguide.org/index.html

http://www.thecommunityguide.org/mvoi/AID/ignit...
Target Audience Adults
Back to Promising Practices Home