Complaint 2204886

Complaint Summary

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Owner Narrative

First and foremost, I am not arguing against, as I hold myself accountable for my choices. I understand the purpose of ignition interlock devices and support preventing impaired driving. However, the reality of rolling retests during heavy traffic, lane changes, merging, and freeway driving can create dangerous distracted-driving situations. Drivers are told to prioritize safe driving, yet missing a retest while actively navigating traffic can result in lockouts, violations, and costly penalties. That puts drivers in an impossible position: either divert attention from the road to complete a test or prioritize safety and risk punishment. In my situation, I missed a test while focused on driving safely, yet every completed test throughout the day showed a 0.00 BAC. Clearly, alcohol was not the issue. The issue was being penalized for choosing road safety during a high-stress traffic situation. Because of that missed test, I have a lockout and required to bring the device in for service and pay an additional $40 fee, despite having no alcohol violations whatsoever. What is especially concerning is that we already recognize distracted driving as a major public safety issue. Laws across the country heavily penalize cell phone use behind the wheel because taking a driver’s focus off the road is dangerous. Yet rolling retests can create that same type of distraction by demanding immediate driver attention during active traffic situations. The current system can also financially burden drivers who are actively trying to comply and make responsible decisions behind the wheel. There should be safer and more practical policies that prioritize public safety without punishing drivers for avoiding distracted driving in dangerous traffic conditions.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.