Four in five drivers in the UK support alcolocks for drink-drivers, a new survey suggests.
Alcolocks prevent a vehicle from starting or being driven unless the driver passes a breath test.
They’re already used for convicted drink-drivers in return for shorter driving bans in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and the US.
The RAC says the poll, which they commissioned, shows UK drivers are “very keen for something different to be done” to combat drink-driving.
People caught drink-driving in the UK lose their licence for at least 12 months, can be fined and also face time in prison.
The driving ban may be reduced if they complete a rehabilitation course.
Seventy-one per cent of drivers supportive of alcolocks think every driver caught over the limit should be forced to have one fitted to their vehicle, according to the survey.
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Twenty-three per cent think only repeat offenders should be ordered to have them installed.
Support for alcolocks appeared highest among younger drivers, with 87% of respondents aged under 25 and 86% of those aged 25-44 keen to see them introduced in the UK.
That was compared with 73% of drivers aged 65 and above.
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“With levels of drink-driving still alarmingly high, drivers are very keen for something different to be done to tackle the problem,” said RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis.
“Drinking and driving might be seen as socially unacceptable by the majority, but it’s clear that a small proportion of people are still doing it and putting the lives of themselves and others at serious risk.
“Giving courts the power to mandate the fitting of alcohol interlocks – which prevent a convicted drink-driver from getting behind the wheel after drinking – is something that drivers believe warrants serious consideration as they’re telling us the current penalties aren’t working.”
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The latest government figures show around 260 people were killed in crashes with drink drivers in Britain in 2023.
Approximately 1,600 people were seriously injured.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is reportedly considering cutting the drink-drive limit from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms.
This would be in line with Scotland, which cut its drink-drive limit in 2014, and the rest of Europe, where no other country has a limit as high as that in England and Wales.
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“Road safety is a priority and as well as strict drink-driving penalties in place, we continually assess whether technology can improve road safety,” said a Department of Transport spokesperson.
“Our major new Think! campaign reminds drivers of the dangers and the devastating consequences that come from getting behind the wheel under the influence of drugs – alongside our ongoing drink-driving campaigns, both designed to reduce the number of those killed and injured on our roads.”
