Biglorryblog is fascinated to see that safety champion GEM Motoring Assist (GEM) is calling for the fitment of alcohol locks to be fited to all new cars in a bid to control drink driving. Indeed GEM (formerly known as the Guild of Experienced Motorists) reckons that this tough measure is justified by "...the continuing failure of expensive drink driving campaigns and the limited number of traffic police patrols breathalysing motorists."
Interesting when you consider that so far all the runing on alco-locks has been made by the public transport sector with the likes of Volvo and Scania now offering them on both buses and more recently trucks, while Volvo has teamed up with one of the ferry companies (I think it's Stena) to provide an alcolock for drivers just about to drive off a ferry.
Now GEM wants all new cars to be fitted with alcohol locks that mean a driver who has been drinking will not be able to start his or her vehicle. GEM chief executive David Williams insists: "There are certain groups of hard-core drinkers who seem to believe they're above the law and continue to drink and drive. While we know there is a problem with young male drivers, mature and middle-aged motorists regularly commit this serious offence and unfortunately there is also an increase in women who drink and then drive.”
Whilst welcoming the news that the government is considering reducing the current limit of 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood to 50 he adds, "...without the means of enforcing the law injury and death caused by drunken driving would continue. The number of breath tests carried out is actually dropping.The police clearly do not have the resources to combat the problem. We are on the threshold of another summer advertising campaign – but where are the traffic police to support the message on the ground?”
Thus Williams reckons it's time for some lateral thinking--in short fitting ignition alcohol locks. Indeed he maintains: "Apart from insisting all newly registered vehicles are fitted with such a device anyone successfully prosecuted for drink driving should have to have an Alco lock retro-fitted to their vehicle before getting their licence back."
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