Alberta Ignition Interlock Program (IIP)

Abstract

The Alberta Ignition Interlock Program aims to reduce excessive drinking and resultant alcohol-related collisions by cutting impaired individuals off from being able to start a car. The system requires the driver to breathe into a small breath-testing device linked to the vehicle ignition system in order to start the car. This program allows individuals who have been convicted of impaired driving, as long as no injury or death have been caused, to get back on the road under cautious conditions. In addition to requiring the driver to blow into the device to start the car, the program requires the individual to randomly blow into the device each hour after that to keep the vehicle running. The Alberta Ignition Interlock Program can be directly linked to decreases in gross drunk driving offenses and decreases in minor, major, and fatal traffic injuries.

Appendices

BRIO Model: Alberta Ignition Interlock Program (IIP)

Group Served: Drivers convicted of an impaired driving offense.

Goal: To prevent participants from driving while intoxicated, and to reduce the likelihood of subsequent impaired driving.

Background	Resources	Implementation	Outcome
Impaired driving as a result of alcohol consumption is a major area of road safety and injury prevention Alcohol Ignition Interlocks (AII) programs are popular as a means to prevent persons convicted of previous drunk driving offenses from repeating behavior In 1990 Alberta’s Driver Control Board introduced Canada’s first AII program	A number of studies and results have been conducted in reference to alcohol ignition interlock programs—the data and results have helped Alberta develop their program Maintenance of the AII devices is by Guardian Interlock Services—provides two interlock service centers in Alberta The Alberta IIP has been tested and had to meet a number of qualifications and specifications for use in the province Installation costs the driver around $130, and a monthly maintenance fee of about $100, and development costs are handled by a private firm—which allows it to be sold to corporations and governments as “cost-neutral”	Responsibility for administration falls to the Transportation Safety Board (Alberta) Majority of Alberta IIP participants are drunk driving re-offenders who have elected to take part in the program as a requirement for license reinstatement Participating in the program means that the driver must blow into the AII device to start the vehicle and to blow randomly each hour to keep the vehicle running—any reading over .04 BAC inhibits the vehicle from starting or continuing to operate The interlock is installed for a minimum of 6 months or until the end of the court-ordered suspension period	Even when controlling for the effects of other risk factors, participation in an ignition interlock program reduced the likelihood of recidivism from impaired driving, high-risk driving, and injury collisions—AII cases were 4.4 times less likely to record a new serious driving violation, 3.9 times less likely to be involved in an injury collision (1997) Combines and incorporates other programs into successful implementation, being multi-dimensional has led to Alberta IIP to be an exemplar program Participation rates remain at less than 15% of the total eligible population (2004)

Life Space Model: Alberta Ignition Interlock Program

Sociocultural: civilization/community	Interpersonal: primary and secondary relationships	Physical environments: where we live	Internal states: biochemical/genetic and means of coping
Offenders take responsibility for their actions and future behavior. Offenders are able to use their cars and participate in the highly transient Alberta economy. Police and courts have a better way at monitoring offenders when they are out in the community. Economic problems sometimes addressed by programs used in conjunction with program.	Some programs used in conjunction with program help provide help networks. The public can be assured that recidivist offense will be avoided or detected. Better identification of hardcore drunk drivers (through data recorder analysis).	The physical barrier to drunk driving re-offense while the device is installed. Some programs used in conjunction with program help identify activities to avoid recidivism after device is uninstalled.	Increases in self-efficacy due to successful participation. Constant reminder to participants that they have drunk too much and reduction in stress at feared “slipups” due to assurance.