The National Transportation Safety Board issued a recommendation that all states enact laws that require alcohol ignition interlock devices for all motorists convicted of driving while intoxicated.
NTSB said 17 states already require the devices and extended the recommendation to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in addition to the 33 states that have yet to pass similar laws. The recommendations were included in a special investigation into wrong-way driving, which NTSB referred to as one of the most serious types of crashes, especially when alcohol or drugs are involved.
Most states and local school districts have zero-tolerance laws or policies governing the use of alcohol or drugs by school bus drivers while on the job. However, this fall the New York state officials called for the ignition interlocks on school buses after two recent incidents involving drunk bus drivers. Legislation has been introduced, which would require all school buses manufactured after July 1, 2013 for use in New York to be equipped with an ingition interlock device.
Local school boards could also adopt resolutions to install the devices by the same date.
Additionally, school bus drivers in Waterloo, Ontario are reportedly pilot testing similar devices that detect if a driver has been drinking and, if so, renders the vehicle inoperable.
