'Alcolocks' for all new cars: Social Democrats
Published: 12 Nov 10 12:19 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/30180/20101112/
The Social Democrats have proposed that all new cars sold in Sweden be equipped with ignition locks to prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver is intoxicated.
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The party's traffic committee chairman Anders Ygeman is in favour of the government's proposal on ignition locks as an alternative to revoking driving privileges for drunk driving offenses.
However, the Social Democrats want to go one step further with even more stringent legislation, including seeking an exemption from the EU that would allow Sweden to introduce ignition locks in all new cars.
"Every fourth traffic fatality could be prevented if we introduced mandatory ignition locks. Additionally, it would save society about 6 billion kronor ($877 million)," said Ygeman.
Ygeman quoted figures from data compiled from a Social Democratic report in 2004.
When asked how much it would cost the automobile industry, Ygeman said, "I think there will be rather minimal costs attached. When one begins mass production, it will become relatively inexpensive."
Stockholm public transport operator SL announced in September that it will install ignition locks on all of its buses within the next two years, ensuring drivers who have been drinking cannot start their vehicles.
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I don't drink, neither does anyone in my family, at least not enough to go over the legal limit, so there is no reason to have such a lock on my car. No reason at all.
On the other hand, if this can prevent an idiot to ram into me because he drank and drove, I'm all for it.
So here is my proposal to the SD: make anyone who wants to buy alcohol be on a national register and get a license to buy alcohol in Sweden, with a condition to get the license being to have an alcolock on their car!
And since we are at it, same thing for smokers (and "snussers"): their must have a buying license, and the cost of cleaning the street from the cigarette butts littering is only charge to them.
About the ignition lock system: it's a marvelous idea except for one little detail: i promise you it's not gonna be cheap. So what we should be really look at is if it is justified expending or not.
It may be pricey, but then again you cant put a price on a persons life either!
And about the above cig/snus thing mentioned, registery is an impossible idea (not to mention way too personal), BUT. One great idea to help with the clean up (I mean seriously, people how hard is it to throw those damn things in an appropriate place?) is raise the prices even more. Yes. Even more, to the point where they can pay to clean up after all of these uncaring people.
Maybe the high prices would do something itself by having less buy them. I just can't believe how nasty the city looks around entrances and bus stops. You should see the entrance to the school I attend, its almost like walking on a carpet of cig-butts, especially after all the snow melts in spring.
Why expensive? Cause you need a government office to inspect those things, and they need calibrating, maitenance, they brake up, and electricity does not like moist and below zero-conditions.
After a certain model has been used for 5 years or so, you can´t find spare parts, so the whole system needs to be replaced by a new model.
If you make the supplier keep spare parts in stock, you will end up with a cartell.
So you might as well pick a certain model right at start. The "government model."
So you end up with a cartell, and shops that give you a betyg in exchange of money, that it works. Also only government approved shops may repair those things, of course.
Similar suggestion was made here in Finland couple of weeks ago. Nice to see how we´re bainwashed into these things. Suggestion was made by our highest police commander.
So that guy not politically connected? it´s sick...
Maybe they should also stop giving swedes their drivers licence as present in a box of cornflakes.
If not I would advice Saab and Volvo to stop putting indicators and mirrors on their cars as cost saving method. People don't use them anyway.
Then what happens to the salesman who rinses out his mouth with mouthwash, after eating surströmming (Swedish herrings) for lunch?
He digs out the multitool he bought from the internet for 10$, presses a button and starts the car.
Or even a mobile phone that cannot be used when it is in motion.
Sweden seems to be so concerned with reducing accidents and vehicle related deaths, but using and HOLDING a mobile phone while driving is acceptable.
My only comment - Check out the research done in other countries about mobile phone usage and GET A HANDLE ON IT.
Using a mobile phone WITHOUT a hands-free kit is probably WORSE than driving drunk.....
And we won't even go into the stupidity of a 0.02 blood/alcohol limit...
Right on the money, try this one for starters .
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6090342-7.html
Or this one:
http://www.swov.nl/rapport/Factsheets/UK/FS_Mobile_phones.pdf
How does the risk of using a mobile phone compare with drink driving?
Research has been carried out that compares the risks of using a mobile phone in the car with drink driving (Strayer, Drews & Crouch, 2006). This research shows that it is almost equally hazardous for a driver to use a mobile phone, as it is to drive with a 0.8‰ blood alcohol concentration. Although the risks are similar, the specific effects actually differ: while using the mobile phone, drivers mostly tend to drive more slowly (even if asked to drive at a specific speed); they react more slowly to road signs and they fail to notice a considerably larger number of direction signs. On the other hand, drivers who drink and drive operate at a higher speed and apply a more aggressive driving style with shorter headways.
But the politicians of this country are more interested in cutting all ways its inhabitants can enjoy life. After the devilish invention of Systembolaget, the even more invention of alcool test... Or, as suggested by the first comment here, a register of alcohol buyers ( why not even go further with this idea of a register of people who enjoy life...)
Now the only question that remains is whether such puritan idiot ideas are due to Social Democracy or to Swedish mentality. Perhaps to both?
What a world!
Talking on the phone should be prohibited while driving, any phone regardless of how it's held.
As for the alcolocks, it's just another electronic gadget that'll break and leave you stranded. I'd be all for more frequent breath tests and tougher limits and punishment for drunk driving, but don't tamper with my car.
*for references see for example those in the Wikipedia article 'Mobile phones and driving safety'
Sure, talking on the phone is prohibited back here, but it´s absolutely impossible to enforce such a law to any great extent.
People played with their hands frees for a while in a large scale but I haven´t seen too many HFs in a long time.
It should be prohibited, though. Those who obviously can not drive and talk on the phone may then be fined. I´m allright, I drive so much I hold a coffee cup & cigarette in my left hand, phone in the right, while eating at the same time, backing up a lorry to a loading dock.. writing the next adress to the navigator.
If I get a fine, so be it. My bad.
I´m with you on that "breaking up and leaving you stranded." Let´s say you buy a SAAB, for example and the alcolock just happens to break down in some St.petersburg highway on saturday night. Good luck, trying to get that particular model for year "2021, updated version" fixed!
So you´d need an override anyway, witch would be illegal and in the jail you´d go, you criminal.
I don't drink, why should I have to prove that I am sober every time I need to drive?
Because somewhere, someone wants to drink and drive? How does it stop him that _I_ have an alcolock in my car?
At most, it stops a drunk from driving MY car, which would not have happened in the first place.
Oh, I get it: years in the future my car may trickle down and accidentally be possessed by an alcoholic, and then he can not drive, much to his complete astonishment!
Meanwhile, I shall blow in a gadget every day so that this can eventually be.