CA is Behind Most of the US When it Comes to Drunk Driving Laws. How Does AB 366 Help Change This?

In 2021, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety, alcohol-involved crashes accounted for 32% of all traffic deaths in California. Nationally, 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes every day — or one person every 39 minutes — and in 2022, 13,524 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These numbers reflect real people: drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike, and reflect the necessity of a change that must be made to combat these preventable deaths.

Just last November, toddlers Neveah and Alenia Flores, ages 3 and 4, lost their lives after a drunk driver ran a red light, hitting their car in San Bernardino County. The driver had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15%, almost twice as high as the legal driving limit of 0.08%. The drunk driver has been charged with two counts of murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Stories like these show how serious the need is for more legislation to curb drunk driving, which has taken too many innocent lives.

What Are Ignition Interlock Devices?

An ignition interlock device (IID) is a breathalyzer wired to a vehicle’s ignition. A breath sample is required to start the vehicle. If alcohol is detected on the breath, the vehicle’s engine will not start. The IID requires more breath samples periodically while driving to ensure the continued absence of alcohol in the driver’s system. According to the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety, IIDs lead to a 40% to 95% reduction in the rate of repeat drunk driving offenses among offenders when combined with a comprehensive monitoring and service program, as long as the IID remains on the vehicle. In other words, they work. And they save lives.

Updating IID Laws in California and Assembly Bill 366

California is behind. Currently, 31 other states and Washington, D.C., already require IIDs for all DUI offenders, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. California doesn’t have a statewide rule, and it’s costing lives. IIDs are a proven and effective deterrent against drunk driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. A study conducted by the association found that states that have compliance-based laws that govern when IIDs may be removed from drunk driving offenders’ vehicles have significantly lower rates of DUI recidivism than states that do not. AB 366 brings California in line with what works: requiring IIDs for every offender and making sure people complete a DUI program before getting their license back. 

Right now, in California, only repeat DUI offenders are required to install an IID. First-time offenders might have to, but that’s up to a judge. AB 366 will change this by mandating IID installation even for first-time offenders; this bill will serve as a necessary and effective measure in preventing repeat offenses and protecting the safety of all road users. This change would close a significant gap in our laws and stop more drunk drivers before they get a chance to reoffend.

The bill also includes another important update: AB 366 would require individuals to provide proof of financial responsibility, such as insurance, and successfully complete a state-licensed DUI program before their driving privileges can be reinstated. This added requirement ensures that convicted individuals have taken the necessary steps to address their behavior and are prepared to drive responsibly before returning to the road. That way, people must take real steps toward safer driving before hitting the road again.

Taking Action

Drunk driving is a public health crisis that endangers innocent lives. California legislators have the opportunity to pass legislation that can reduce alcohol-related traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities on California roads, preventing countless unnecessary deaths. We urge California legislators to pass AB 366, and if you want to support legislation that will save lives as well, join our coalition to support this bill.