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Distracted driving risks of ignition interlock devices

On Behalf of | Mar 5, 2020 | DUI |

Most people might assume that any penalty associated with a criminal offense may focus on increased safety. This may come in the form of preventing future offenses or directing less risky behaviors. An example of this may be the frequently required use of ignition interlock devices. People charged with some drunk driving offenses may lose their driving privileges, but then have the ability to reinstate them by using these devices that require them to provide clean breath samples prior to driving.

With an ignition interlock device, however, a driver must also take and pass breath tests at random times while operating their vehicles. These are called rolling retests and, as explained by Car and Driver magazine, a failed or missed test may launch a series of alarms that are only stopped once a vehicle’s engine has been turned off. A driver is given just a few minutes to complete these tests.

AAA Exchange has published much information and research regarding distracted driving. The handheld use of an electronic device has commonly received a lot of focus as a primary form of distracted driving. This is because it requires a driver to take their vision away from the road, their hands off the steering wheel and their mental focus away from driving.

Participating in a random rolling retest is a primary form of distracted driving as it also requires a driver’s eyes, hands and mental focus to divert away from the act of driving. In fact, there are multiple vehicle accidents that have been directly linked to a driver’s participation in these tests.