The Ignition Interlock Device

The ignition interlock device is a very special gadget that is useful in the war against drunk driving. It is attached to the offender`s car and it is a sort of breathalyser used by the authorities to check your Blood alcohol content on the spot. The point is that the drivers cannot start their car before breathing in the device. If the BAC is alright for driving (which usually has to be below 0.02 or 0.04), the device will let the driver start the car.

The device still has some imperfections and the company is currently trying to make sure that the technology cannot be bypassed. Such things as overriding the device or having somebody else blow in the device are the kind of imperfections that a standard interlock device wouldn`t have.

That is why the ignition interlock device will sometimes ask for a random test while the person is driving. That is to keep people from having their friends blow in the ignition interlock device and also so that they don`t drink while they`re driving. If, at any time while driving, the device registers that there is a high blood alcohol level, an alarm will warn the driver (such as a loud noise) but the car will not stop. It would be very dangerous if the car were just to stop altogether in the middle of the road.

The device keeps a log of all the times the driver actually used the ignition interlock. That log gets downloaded and/or printed every once in a while. The authorities who requested that the device be installed can also request to see the log from time to time. This device also costs the driver some money so that the gadget can be installed and maintained.

The Interlock Device in Canada

An insurance company called Allstate has been a firm believer in the campaigns against drunk driving. In the last few years, the have been implementing a new program that could help curb drunk driving. They have been installing an interlock device in the cars of offenders who were charged with drunk driving. The device itself is still in an improvement phase, they are trying to bring it up to a certain standard.

The interlock program has been implemented in numerous provinces all over the country. The only provinces and territories who have not adopted this program were Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. MADD and other organisations are currently trying to get the interlock program started in those places in Canada.

But it has been noticed that not all provinces are equally efficient when it come to the efficiency of the Interlock program. A study has been made and in that study they have evaluated each province, looking at different aspects of the program, noting how well each province did. The highest rating was C+, which goes to show that there is definitely room for improvement.

The following provinces were in the lead with a C+ :
-Alberta -Ontario
-Prince Edward Island -Manitoba

Close behind there were two provinces with a rating of C:
-Quebec British Columbia

Behind those were two Canadian provinces who were rated C-:
-Saskatchewan -Yukon

Second to last, there was one province that got a D-:
-Newfoundland and Labrador

Of course the worst ratings came to the provinces that have yet to adopt and apply the interlock program entirely, they received an F:
-New Brunswick -Nova Scotia
-Northwest Territories

^{Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_overdose
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug_overdose/page3_em.htm#Drug%20Overdose%20Symptoms}