How Successful Have Ignition Interlocks Been?

There’s a reason huge organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) support Ignition Interlocks in their three-prong approach to eliminate drunk driving.

MADD has been lobbying to pass all-offender Ignition Interlock laws in every state for the past 10 years for offenders with a BAC level of .08 and above. To quantify the device’s success, MADD released a report on Ignition Interlocks and their effectiveness.

Sober to Start Report on Ignition Interlocks

MADD’s Sober to Start 2017 report states that 2.3 million attempts to start a vehicle drunk were prevented by Ignition Interlocks. That number goes back to 2006.  Between 2015 and 2016, Ignition Interlocks prevented 350,000 drunk driving attempts.

MADD then breaks down state by state how many times an Ignition Interlock prevented a drunk driver from starting their vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or more. For California, an Ignition Interlock stopped someone from starting their car drunk 35,756 times between 2015 and 2016 alone.

All-Offender Ignition Interlock Law by State

The technology is solid, national studies have researched and supported its effectiveness and states are continuously adopting effective Ignition Interlock laws every year.

10 years ago, only New Mexico had an all-offender law in place. Fast forward to 2018, where there are now 30 states and D.C. with an all-offender law, and a couple states working toward adopting it as well.

MADD will continue to create annual reports to show the effectiveness of Ignition Interlocks, and how they create safer roads every day. Smart Start is proud to join MADD in their mission, and help individuals get back on the road in a safely with an Ignition Interlock.

Need an Ignition Interlock?

Choose Smart Start, the worldwide provider of Ignition Interlocks with 24/7/365 customer service and an affordable program. Schedule your installation appointment today by calling (800) 831-3299 or fill out our online form.