AA slams lack of booze interlocks

An alcohol interlock device can prevent cars from starting if the driver has been drinking.

Not a single drink driver was sentenced by Rotorua courts to have an alcohol interlock device fitted to a car in two years, a situation the Automobile Association describes as embarrassing.

But one Rotorua woman, whose daughter was killed by a recidivist drink driver, says the devices are flawed and may not prevent drink driving anyway.

Interlock devices prevent a drunk driver starting the vehicle. Offenders convicted of repeat drink driving offences or an excessively high blood or breath alcohol concentration can be given an alcohol interlock sentence. They can then apply for an alcohol interlock licence and have an interlock installed. Such drivers must blow into the device - recording a breath alcohol level of zero - before their car will start.

Sonia Wilson, whose 23-year-old daughter Whittney Robertson was killed by a repeat drink driver in May 2009, said the devices were "only as good as the user".

"The biggest flaw is that many recidivist drink drivers don't 'own' a car.

"The devices are not going to be particularly useful if the person requiring one has access to other people's cars.

"I think we need to look a lot more into these devices and make sure they can be supported otherwise they will not prevent drink driving."

No alcohol interlock sentences were imposed in Rotorua in 2013 and 2014, according to the Ministry of Justice. Nationwide there were 568 alcohol interlock sentences during the period.

The Rotorua Daily Post reported yesterday that 360 Rotorua drivers were caught drink-driving between January 1 and September 30 this year - compared to 462 for all of 2014.

Figures also showed 145 Rotorua people were caught between 251mcg (the new lower limit) and 400 mcg (the previous limit) in the 10 months from December 1.

Mrs Wilson said it was great there had been a decline in drink drivers caught over the last five years.

"A lot of work is being done to educate people and while it would be great to see that number lowered to zero, we should not ignore the progress being made in this area of offending."

AA Road Safety spokesman Dylan Thomsen said the number of people being given alcohol interlock sentences was "embarrassingly small".

AA research had found half the drink drivers caught met the criteria for an interlock, which would have been about 10,000 people in 2014.

Mr Thomsen said it was disappointing only a few of those offenders had interlock devices installed.

He said the AA wanted all repeat offenders and those caught driving at twice the legal alcohol limit to receive an interlock sentence.

The AA also wanted more assessment and treatment for drink drivers. Many eligible for interlocks had serious alcohol problems, he said.