Drink-Driving

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town Excerpts

Wednesday 1st July 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential role of innovation and technology in reducing drink-driving, particularly repeat offending.

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government recognise the role that innovation and technology can play in reducing drink-driving and repeat offending, alongside effective enforcement, education and penalties. Through the road safety strategy, we consulted on measures to tackle drink-driving and drug-driving, including the potential use of alcohol interlocks for offenders. Responses are now being analysed. Our approach will remain evidence-led, proportionate and focused on reducing deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads.

[Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for his response. He will know that unless an alcolock—which is, in effect, a breathalyser in a car—gets a negative response, the engine will not start. Alcolocks have been introduced in many counties, where they have halved repeat offending and therefore reduced deaths. Might the Government move just a little bit faster than awaiting the outcome of the consultation and take action to either introduce or pilot these as a potential sanction for a drink-drive conviction? Might the Government follow the EU in requiring all new cars to be fitted with a basic kit so that, if this was introduced, it would be very simple to implement?

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

My noble friend is a great advocate for better policing of drink-driving. I understand the sad reasons why, and our hearts go out to everybody who has suffered bereavement or injury through drink-driving. Alcolocks are widely used internationally, and the evidence shows that they reduce reoffending while installed, but reoffending returns to a similar level once they are removed. That is not a reason for not doing it, but it is a reason for being careful. The Government have published the first comprehensive road safety strategy for many years, and it is right that we consult on that and that, when we have consulted, what we do about it is proportionate and thought-through, so that the measures actually work.

My noble friend also mentioned installation facilitation, and we are thinking about that carefully. Meanwhile, we are carrying on with a package of advanced safety technologies that are ready now.