According to a recent study released by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving, it was found that ignition interlock devices which are those devices installed in someone’s car to prevent them from being able to start the engine if they fail a sobriety test, prevented thousands of drunk driving accidents.

Starting in 2010, Mothers Against Drunk Driving began collecting information about the number of car starts that were prevented with an interlock because the driver had a greater than 0.08 blood alcohol content. Between December of 2006 and December of 2016 in California, more than 195,687 vehicle starts were prohibited due to the failure of the interlock device. California also has a new upcoming law about interlocks. In 2019, interlocks will be mandatory for repeat offenders and first-time offenders who cause injuries in their crashes. Other first time offenders will have a choice between:

  • A 30-day license suspension followed by 330 days on a route on time restricted license.
  • One-year license suspension upon conviction.
  • Ignition interlock use for 6 months with no route or time restrictions.

The California DMV also presented information about the deterrent value of ignition interlocks identifying that ignition interlocks are 74% more effective in reducing DUI recurrence than license suspension alone. When compared with license suspension and repeat DUI occurrences, interlocks were 45% more effective in preventing a repeat DUI occurrence.

A DUI accident may leave victims with serious injuries like broken bones, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries. The costs and frustrations association with handling injuries like this can be overwhelming for the victim as well as his or her family members. Knowing where to turn and how to focus on recovery during this challenging time may be crucial for someone whose life has been forever changed due to an accident.