The alcohol lock is coming, a ban on driving with too much alcohol

Hard times for Bacchus lovers who have already been found behind the wheel with too much alcohol in their bodies: Matteo Salvini has in fact signed the decree that gives the go-ahead to the use of alcohol locks, the devices that repeat offenders will have to use in the car. If the alcohol level is too high, the car will not start. Some professionals in the sector, experts and body shops in particular, had already expressed doubts about this measure contained in the new highway code. Starting from the price which - they said - was around 2,000 euros per car.

But now it's decided. Salvini, - the Ministry of Transport announces - "has signed the decree that defines the characteristics and installation methods of the alcolock device. This text provides precise guidelines to authorized workshops for assembly and to users. This is one of the most significant innovations introduced by the new highway code, in force since December 14th. The alcolock is a system that prevents the vehicle from starting if the driver does not pass a breath test.

The engine will only start if the alcohol level is zero. The new code - explains the MIT - makes the installation of the alcohol lock mandatory for drivers already fined for driving with a blood alcohol level higher than 0.8 g/l, configuring itself as a key measure for repeat offenders, who will be able to drive only vehicles on board which this device is installed. The decree establishes that the alcohol lock can be installed on different categories of vehicles used for the transport of both people and goods and must comply with the standards of European legislation. Specific obligations are foreseen for manufacturers, who will have to provide detailed instructions for installation, use and maintenance.

Authorized installers will play a crucial role, having to apply a special seal to prevent any attempt at tampering. In the event of roadside checks, the driver will have to show the original installation declaration and the valid calibration certificate of the device. The installation of the alcolock will not require an update of the single circulation document. The Ministry will publish the list of authorized installers and vehicle models compatible with each type of alcolock on the website www.ilportaledellautomobilista.it.

Among the doubts already expressed at the launch of the code, Aiped, the Italian Association of Damage Appraisers, argued, among other things, that the decree of the Ministry of Transport on the alcohol lock "contains some critical issues that can give rise to legal disputes and appeals by motorists". For example, "the installation and disassembly of the alcohol lock device are not included among the technical operations subject to inspection and testing by the civil motorization offices". Federcarrozzieri also criticizes: "the Italian car fleet, in fact, is known to be very old, with almost 22% of the cars in circulation being over 19 years old. There is therefore a concrete risk that on many particularly old cars it will be technically impossible to install the alcohol lock".