Ignition Interlocks - What You Need to Know: A Toolkit for Policymakers, Highway Safety Professionals, and Advocates (2nd Edition)

Mayer, Robin · 2014 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This document, titled *Ignition Interlocks – What You Need to Know*, is a comprehensive toolkit published in 2014 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for policymakers, highway safety professionals, and advocates. The publication addresses the persistent problem of alcohol-impaired driving, which continues to cause over 10,000 deaths annually in the United States. Its primary objective is to provide guidance on designing, implementing, and managing effective ignition interlock programs to reduce recidivism among driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders. The toolkit synthesizes existing research, technical specifications, and administrative best practices to support states in establishing or strengthening their interlock initiatives. The content is structured as a practical guide rather than a traditional research study, drawing on decades of interlock technology development and numerous prior research studies. It details the technical operation of ignition interlocks, which are aftermarket devices requiring a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) sample below a preset limit (typically 0.02 g/dL) before a vehicle can start. The toolkit outlines program implementation strategies, including the selection of vendors, offender monitoring, and cost management. It categorizes state programs into administrative, judicial, or hybrid models and provides checklists, sample forms, and state-specific data to aid in administrative planning. The document also reviews the evolution of interlock technology from semiconductor sensors to more accurate fuel cell technology and discusses current developments aimed at preventing circumvention, such as in-vehicle cameras. Key findings summarized from existing research indicate that ignition interlocks significantly reduce DWI recidivism while the device is installed, benefiting both first-time and repeat offenders. However, recidivism rates typically return to baseline levels once the interlock is removed, suggesting that long-term or permanent installation may be necessary for high-risk offenders. The toolkit highlights that interlock data serves as a strong predictor of future recidivism risk, with higher rates of failed breath tests correlating with higher post-sanction reoffending. Additionally, the document notes that interlocks are cost-effective, with benefits estimated at $3 to $7 for every dollar spent, and are generally viewed as fair sanctions by offenders and supportive by their families. Combining interlocks with substance abuse treatment is identified as a strategy to enhance rehabilitation outcomes by providing counselors with objective data on offender behavior. The significance of this toolkit lies in its role as a centralized resource for standardizing and optimizing state-level ignition interlock programs. By providing evidence-based recommendations on program goals—such as incapacitation, punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation—it helps administrators create efficient systems that maximize public safety. The document emphasizes the importance of stakeholder involvement, clear administrative rules, and robust vendor oversight to ensure compliance and prevent tampering. Ultimately, the toolkit aims to advance the understanding of interlock technology and its application, offering a structured approach to reducing alcohol-impaired driving injuries and deaths through effective policy and program management.

Key finding

Ignition interlocks significantly reduce recidivism among DWI offenders while installed, but recidivism rates increase to pre-installation levels once the devices are removed.

Methodology

review

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Topics

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• alcohol detection systems
• dui enforcement

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation