Second Workshop On In-Vehicle Alcohol Test Devices

NHTSA · 1988 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This document summarizes the proceedings of the Second Workshop on In-Vehicle Alcohol Test Devices, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and held in Washington, DC, on October 14, 1987. The workshop aimed to convene manufacturers, legislators, judges, researchers, and safety program personnel to review advancements in in-vehicle alcohol test (IVAT) technology and exchange information regarding state and local applications. Attended by over seventy external stakeholders, the event marked a shift in focus from the feasibility of the technology, which was the subject of the 1986 workshop, to practical implementation and evaluation issues. The discussions centered primarily on breath test devices, which were being actively marketed, rather than performance-based devices. The workshop agenda covered five primary topics: legislation and ongoing programs, recent developments in IVAT devices, certification testing, field evaluation research, and information exchange methods. Presentations included legislative perspectives from representatives and judges in Oregon, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, and Massachusetts; technical updates from manufacturers such as Safety Interlock, Inc., Autosense Corp., and Guardian Interlock Systems, Inc.; and research insights from NHTSA and academic institutions. A significant portion of the discussion addressed the lack of standardized certification procedures. While five states had passed legislation authorizing ignition interlock devices and over a dozen had bills in development, state agencies lacked the expertise to establish testing standards. Manufacturers expressed concern about the cost and complexity of meeting fifty different state standards, leading to a consensus that federal guidelines analogous to those for evidential breath tests were necessary. Key findings highlighted significant barriers to widespread adoption, including cost, liability, and efficacy. Concerns were raised regarding who would pay for devices for indigent offenders, with Oregon’s use of DWI funds cited as a potential model. Participants debated whether interlocks should supplement or replace other sanctions. Evaluation research was identified as critical; studies were planned or underway in California, Oregon, Ohio, and Maryland, with results expected in two years. However, participants noted that these studies might not provide unambiguous evidence of recidivism reduction and expressed concern that some research was manufacturer-funded. Technical challenges, particularly device circumvention and cheating, remained unresolved, though manufacturers were introducing recorders to log tampering attempts. Product liability insurance costs and the difficulty of finding laboratories willing to conduct certification tests without state indemnification were also identified as serious implementation hurdles.

Key finding

The workshop participants identified a consensus need for standardized certification guidelines and independent evaluation data to support the widespread adoption of in-vehicle alcohol test devices.

Methodology

other

Provenance

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Topics

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• alcohol detection systems

Information type

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• Methodological Resource: validation psychometrics