Car Accidents Involving Alcohol Must be Reduced

 Alcohol-related crashes killed nearly 18,000 people on American highways last year. Just a few years ago, New Mexico had one of the most serious drunk driving problems in the United States, with more alcohol-related fatalities per capita than any other state. Since then, its legislators addressed the problem in part by requiring ignition interlocks for repeat "DWI" (driving while intoxicated) offenders. In essence it is a breath analyzer installed in the car that won't let the car be started if the driver has been drinking. https://askcompetentlawyer.com/ The interlock requires the driver to pass a re-test at random intervals while driving, otherwise it will shut off the vehicle. It's meant to prevent people from taking a drink after they've started the car or from having a sober person start the car for someone who's been drinking.

Other states have similar laws, but in 2005, New Mexico became the first to require interlocks for first-time offenders. Many officials say they're beginning to see positive results from mandatory interlock sentencing for all DWIs. It appears that our Florida legislature should consider efforts to make our roadways safer by reducing the risk of car accidents caused by drunk drivers.

According to Richard Roth, president of Impact DWI statistics show that drunk driving crashes are down since New Mexico's interlock laws went into effect. And, he says requiring the offender to pay for their own interlock installation and maintenance also saves the state money.

The critics of this approach argue that the vast majority of the drunk drivers in fatal crashes in New Mexico and nationally have never been arrested for DWI, so even if you mandate ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, they wouldn't have them on the cars of people who've never been convicted. That leaves only a small percent who might be affected. These folks contend that a more effective and proven strategy is to revoke DWI offenders' drivers' licenses. Perhaps a combination of these approaches would work to reduce needless alcohol-related car accident fatalities in Florida. Certainly, we have seen too many innocent lives cut short not to try to make a positive impact.