The Garden City Telegram

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Curbed threat

Published 6/22/2009 in Commentary : Editorial

One drunken driving arrest and conviction should be enough for anyone.

Unfortunately, that's not the case for many who instead continue to get drunk and get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

Curbing such repeat offenses is a priority for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which is asking Kansas to join 11 other states in requiring all convicted drunken drivers, first-time offenders included, to use ignition interlocks that prevent engines from starting until drivers blow into alcohol detectors to prove they're sober.

The strategy is working in other states. Since New Mexico, for example, enacted mandatory interlocks for all offenders in 2005, that state has seen alcohol-involved crashes down 30 percent; alcohol-involved injuries down 32 percent; and alcohol-involved fatalities down 22 percent — all positive trends other states can't ignore.

A bill that would have required the devices for all offenders failed in the past Kansas legislative session. Instead, lawmakers approved establishing a commission to review state laws, compare them with other states and recommend changes.

Some would argue that requiring mandatory interlocks for first-time offenders is too tough, as everyone should be allowed to make one mistake. That might make sense if repeat offenses were rare, but they're not.

In Kansas, where two or more drunken driving convictions bring mandatory use of interlocks, the Kansas Driver Control Bureau recently reported drivers with interlock devices at 2,873, up 45 percent from the year before.

Of course the interlock strategy isn't foolproof. Someone legally drunk still could get behind the wheel of another vehicle, or have someone who's sober breathe into the device.

And without sufficient steps to make sure the devices are installed as required, some offenders simply would ignore the court order.

There's no cure-all, unfortunately. People will continue to find a way to drive when they've had too much to drink, and become hazards on the roads.

But policymakers tackling a serious, preventable public health risk still need to consider multiple strategies. As one proven way to sharply reduce the number of repeat drunken driving offenders who endanger themselves and others, expanded use of interlocks is a sensible path to pursue.

Do you think Kansas should require all convicted drunken drivers to use ignition interlocks? Talk about it at SWKTalk.com.

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