Adoption of the alcohol interlock and its effects in professional transport

The study investigated the implementation and effects of alcohol interlocks in professional transportation. No statistics exist on the drunk-driving of professional drivers. In an analysis of stop checks by Uudenmaa Police, 0.23% of all breathalysed drivers were found to be over the legal limit. The share of professional drivers out of all drunk-drivers was 8.6%. Between 2001 and 2010, a total of 625 heavy traffic drunk-driving accidents occurred on the highways. Although the share of drunk-driving accidents out of all heavy-traffic accidents is small (2.5%), the consequences of these accidents are often fatal. Professional drivers should act in an exemplary manner in traffic in every way, and no drunk-driving should occur at all. Since 2008, a person guilty of drunk-driving has had the option of choosing a conditional right to drive a vehicle fitted with an alcohol interlock instead of being issued with a driving ban. In August 2011, the Act on the Use of Alcohol Interlocks in School and Day Care Transportation came into effect. The number of alcohol interlocks in use in professional transportation is now estimated at around 8,000. In autumn 2011, the experiences of professional drivers on alcohol interlocks were surveyed. The most positive thing about the use of alcohol interlocks was considered to be the image of a responsible driver/company, and the emphasis of road safety and security. The most negative thing was considered to be the time and trouble spent using the device and the embarrassment of using the device in public places. The majority (71%) of respondents had a positive view on the obligatory use of alcohol interlocks in school and day care transportation, but considered the view of the rest of the work community (41% positive) to be clearly more negative than their own.