New cars sold in Britain will not be required to be fitted with equipment allowing the installation of in-built breathalysers, the government confirmed Thursday.
Following a consultation that concluded in May, officials announced that Alcohol Interlock Installation Facilitation (AIIF), a system designed to enable the installation of breathalysers for drivers with previous drink-drive convictions, will not become a legal requirement. This decision comes as part of the outcome of a vehicle safety consultation published by the Department for Transport (DfT), which was initiated due to a slowdown in progress in reducing road traffic deaths and serious injuries.
Instead, the government will mandate a range of other advanced safety features on new vehicle models. These include blind-spot warnings, tyre-pressure monitoring systems, drowsiness and attention monitoring cameras, and emergency braking technology designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Controversial Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), a speed-limiter technology that alerts drivers when they exceed the speed limit and can actively slow a vehicle, will also become mandatory.
The government stated it will keep AIIF under review as broader policies regarding alcohol interlocks develop. However, vehicles already on sale and many future models are likely to include AIIF as manufacturers may opt to fit the standardized interface to avoid producing UK-specific models that differ from those sold in the European Union.
Road safety organizations expressed disappointment with the decision, citing studies that showed support for technology that could prevent repeat drink-driving offenses. The RAC, a motoring organization, argued that the absence of mandatory AIIF is a missed opportunity, as it would have facilitated the easier installation of alcohol interlocks for repeat offenders. Research from the RAC indicates that 53% of drivers polled last year supported mandatory alcolocks for convicted drink-drivers.
According to a Freedom of Information request, 27,000 individuals were convicted of multiple drink-driving offenses in the 11 years leading up to July 2024. While the number of road deaths involving at least one drink-driver fell between 2022 and 2023, fatalities remain higher than a decade ago.
Of the 220 responses received during the consultation, 55.5% agreed with the proposal not to mandate AIIF at this stage. Reasons cited included concerns about proportionality, timing, and the technology's dependence on future alcohol interlock programs. Some respondents also raised issues regarding costs and implementation burdens, suggesting AIIF would be unnecessary for most vehicles, alongside concerns about technology readiness and the need for further policy development.