In the last ten years, over 16,000 people in Sweden have been issued driving licenses with an alcohol lock, which is the most in Europe, according to a press release from the Swedish Transport Agency.
Since 2012, people convicted of drunk driving have been able to keep their driving license if they install an alcohol lock. Approximately one in four drunk drivers now applies for and is granted an alcohol lock, and today there are around 2,300 such driving licenses in the country. That is significantly more than in the handful of other European countries that have introduced systems with alcolock.
“The breathalyzer lock gives people an opportunity to continue driving despite drunk driving, but then you have to comply with the rather tough requirements we set,” says Ted Snölilja, breathalyzer coordinator at the Swedish Transport Agency, according to the press release.
In Sweden, the alcohol lock is paid for by the drunk driver himself, who also has to undergo regular medical check-ups.