In an attempt to stop drunk driving, the French government announced a new law requiring all drivers to carry a single-use, portable breathalyzer in every car. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2012, and raises a number of interesting questions.
The device, which costs roughly $2 to $10, is not connected to the engine and therefore will not automatically impose driving restrictions. The only requirement is that it be “immediately accessible.” The driver would have to use the device (completely voluntarily) and then choose not to get behind the wheel. Additionally, the single-use device will only tell whether a person has been drinking alcohol and not the driver’s BAC. It is not clear on whether the device would indicate if the user is above France’s drink driving limit of .05 BAC.
Interestingly, new “coaches” (busses) in France have had mandatory interlock equipment since January 2010. All coaches will be required to have ignition interlocks by 2015. But the new law for all other vehicles includes no requirement that the breathalyzers be installed on a vehicle’s ignition system.
The new law goes as far as requiring the device to be in any car that is driven in France, not necessarily registered there. In particular, the Irish Times reports on the impact the law will have on the roughly 750,000 tourists that drive from Ireland to France each year. The breathalyzer requirement joins a list of other required items, such as traffic cones, as part of a perceived hard-hitting road safety program.
The penalty for failure to comply is $15. It is unclear how that would be enforced. Ironically, the cost for visitors from Ireland to acquire the breathalyzers before they enter the country could be closer to $65.
The government estimates of the 4,000 killed in auto accidents last year, 33% are alcohol-related. Though it is understandable that the French government wants to stop the drinking and driving epidemic, this is a relatively unique tactic in the DUI world.
What impact do you think these one-use, disposable breathalyzers will have on drunk driving? Does this law go too far, or not far enough? Is this the first step in mandatory interlock technology installed in all new vehicles?
Over the past several decades, France has done more than most other countries to reduce road fatalities of all types, especially speeding and drunk-driving.
They have gone from having one of the worst road fatality rates to one of the best. Over this period they have dramatically increased roadside breathalyzer tests, implemented more random breathalyzer testing, increased sanctions for DUI and speeding, and raised public awareness. Their DUI limit is lower at .05 BAC versus that of the US which is .08BAC.
The French are hoping that the new breathalyzer law will further increase road safety by encouraging greater public awareness and more self testing.
Their recent track record suggests they know what they are doing.
This seems like a pretty good idea except for a couple of reasons. Those who think about it and try to blow to check if they can drive are probably fine to drive home, they may be over the limit, but they are not in danger of killing a bunch of innocent people because they are obviously acting responsibly. The real problems begin with those drivers who are belligerent and this device will have no affect on them. The final problem is if it really only tells you if you have been drinking and not if you are over the limit. Everyone knows if they were drinking or not… its a question of if its legal to drive home.