What Car? Q&A - Will breathalyser keys get more common?

Q: I read in the latest copy of What Car? about Saab’s new Alcokey, which contains a breathalyser to stop people driving their car if they are over the drink-drive limit. Are other manufacturers working on similar systems?
Alan Hill

A: We haven’t heard of any other car makers developing their own alcokeys, but the Government is considering the use of similar technology to discourage convicted drink-drivers from reoffending.

The Road Safety Bill, currently under discussion in the House of Commons, proposes introducing Alcohol Ignition Interlock Programmes (AIIPs), which are already in use in North America and Australia. Under the scheme, convicted drink-drivers serve a driving ban of at least a year, but can return to the road sooner if they agree to have a system fitted to their car that immobilises the engine if they fail a breath sample.

AIIP schemes also include counselling and education. Failure to comply with the conditions of the programme, or interfering with the AIIP system, results in the original driving ban being reinstated.