[Preventing Drunk Driving] Just One Drink and Got in the Car... The Engine Won't Start

①[Report] 'Ignition Interlock Device' Test Site
Blowing Hard into 10cm White Stick Shows Measurement
Even with Proxy Measurement, Ignition Locks if 'Driver Mismatch' Occurs

Editor's NoteEvery year, more than 100,000 people are caught by the police for drunk driving. There are 15,000 drunk driving traffic accidents annually, resulting in over 200 deaths each year. Measures against drunk driving have mainly focused on strengthening punishments. The 'Yoon Chang-ho Act,' passed by the National Assembly in 2018, is a representative example. However, incidents of drunk driving and related accidents, such as the recent Mercedes-Benz drunk driving fatality case, continue unabated. Therefore, the argument for a new approach that can fundamentally block drunk driving is gaining traction. We examine the effectiveness of existing drunk driving measures and explore fundamental solutions in two parts.

"Beep, the measurement result is normal."

After blowing with all my might into a 10cm-long white stick, the smartphone displayed a normal measurement result after 10 seconds. Then, with a 'vroom' sound, the car engine started. After drinking a glass of soju and measuring in the same way, the smartphone screen, which was green, turned red and a warning sound 'beep' rang out. The smartphone screen showed the message "Measurement result abnormal" and a blood alcohol concentration of '0.040%', far exceeding the license suspension level (0.030%). I tried starting the engine several times, but the car did not budge.

When measuring the ignition interlock device during drunk driving, normal condition (left) and after drinking alcohol (right).
[Photo by Seohee Lee]

Is proxy measurement impossible? When a passenger who had not drunk a drop blew into the stick instead, the user's face recognized by the smartphone camera was immediately sent to the administrator server with a 'click' sound effect. The engine was locked with a message indicating 'driver mismatch.' A company official said, "It reacts sensitively enough to detect even one glass of soju, so no drunk driver can escape detection," adding, "Since the user's face, name, and vehicle number are registered in advance via smartphone, proxy measurement can also be prevented."

Full implementation from October... Will it have a preventive effect?

This place in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, is a smart technology company producing drunk driving engine immobilizers. With the mandatory installation of engine immobilizers for those with two or more drunk driving offenses within five years starting this October, they are accelerating final technology development.

A drunk driving engine immobilizer is a device that measures the alcohol concentration in the driver's breath before starting the engine and prevents the car from starting if the blood alcohol concentration exceeds the standard. In Korea, bills mandating the installation of such devices for drunk driving offenders have been proposed for a long time but repeatedly failed due to lack of agreement on details.

However, last October, as awareness of drunk driving increased due to various accidents including the 'Bae Seung-ah case,' a revision to the Road Traffic Act mandating the installation of immobilizers passed the National Assembly plenary session. Currently, the National Police Agency is collecting opinions from relevant ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, revising subordinate laws, and conducting pilot operations and system development.

Airport limousine equipped with an ignition interlock device for drunk driving.
[Photo by Acecube]

Countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe that have proactively introduced such laws have reported that engine immobilizers have a significant effect in reducing recidivism in drunk driving. California was the first in the U.S. to introduce engine immobilizers in the 1980s, and from 2015 for four years, 6,000 people in Los Angeles alone were caught by the device and prevented from driving. Studies also show that recidivism rates dropped by about 70% after the device was introduced.

In Korea, the device is currently installed on some special vehicles such as airport limousines, children's vehicles, and vehicles for the disabled. The response on site has been positive so far. A representative of an airport limousine company said, "At first, many drivers found it cumbersome, but after one or two weeks, more voices said it was good because it could prevent safety accidents," adding, "Since vulnerable groups such as the disabled and children ride, the satisfaction of guardians is also high."

Device cost 2 million won... "Should be supported by national funds" vs. "Should be self-funded"

While the installation of the device is generally welcomed, opinions still differ on details such as device cost and installation targets. The cost of drunk driving engine immobilizers produced domestically is around 2 million won. Including management and repair fees, the price goes up.

Initially, 'national funding support' was discussed, but this was removed during the National Assembly discussions, changing to 'self-funding.' In other words, those with drunk driving records who want to continue driving must bear the cost personally and install the device.

The ignition interlock device attached to the vehicle during drunk driving.
[Photo by Lee Seohee]

Some voices say this is an 'excessive sanction.' For taxi and freight drivers who must drive for their livelihood, lack of money could force them to give up their livelihood.

On the other hand, since those who become 'installation targets' must bear a fairly high cost, it is argued that drivers will be more aware of the dangers of drunk driving. California and Illinois in the U.S. basically require individuals to bear the device cost but operate funds to support low-income drivers who cannot afford it through federal government assistance.

Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of Konkuk University's Department of Police Science said, "Making individuals bear all equipment costs could be seen as excessive state intervention," adding, "To alleviate this, incentives such as providing certain benefits when installing the device could be used."

Controversy over the installation targets continues. Some argue that the device should be installed on 'all drivers' from the start to prevent the formation of offenders, while others say it should be limited to those with one or more drunk driving offenses.

Overseas, installation targets vary slightly, but it is generally mandatory for drivers caught drunk driving at least once. Most U.S. states and Canada require installation for repeat offenders with two or more offenses. France has mandated engine immobilizers on all buses since September 2015.

Professor Lee said, "Forcing device installation regardless of drunk driving history and imposing criminal penalties for violations could be an excessive restriction of basic rights," adding, "In-depth discussion on installation targets is also necessary."