Program design for incentivizing ignition interlock installation for alcohol-impaired drivers: The Ontario approach

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Traffic Safety Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Drinking and driving remains a significant cause of traffic injuries.
• Ignition interlocks are effective but face implementation challenges like delayed eligibility and low uptake.
• Ontario's "Reduced Suspension with Ignition Interlock Conduct Review" Program aimed to overcome these barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of Ontario's incentive-based ignition interlock program.
• To assess the program's effect on installation rates, pre-trial elapsed time, and post-installation recidivism.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal analysis of Ontario drivers with first-time alcohol-impaired driving convictions (July 2005 - Nov 2014).
• Utilized interrupted time series and Cox regression models.
• Examined ignition interlock installation, pre-trial elapsed time, and post-interlock recidivism.

Main Results:

• Ignition interlock installation rates increased by 54% post-program implementation.
• Pre-trial elapsed time decreased by an average of 146 days.
• No significant effect was observed on post-interlock recidivism rates.

Conclusions:

• The incentive-based program effectively addressed barriers to ignition interlock installation, increasing uptake.
• Installation rates are influenced by incentivization and external factors, offering policy opportunities.
• The findings provide real-world data on ignition interlock program effectiveness beyond proxy measures.