Alcolocks for coach firm

Alcolocks are already used extensively in Sweden, Canada, North America and Australia, and could soon become a legal requirement in Europe as fleet managers come under increasing legal responsibility to ensure, and demonstrate, their drivers are operating at appropriate standards to protect themselves, passengers and other road users.

The Swedish Government is already drafting legislation to have alcolocks, an alcohol activated vehicle immobiliser, fitted to all new buses and trucks by 2010, and cars by 2012.

David Dawson, engineering manager of Ellisons Travel Services, said: “At Ellisons, all our clients are highly valued and fitting alcolocks confirms our commitment to their safety. We are fortunate to have a team of extremely professional drivers who adhere to strict guidelines where alcohol is concerned, but the alcolock system removes any doubt for everyone.

“We also expect the industry will soon adopt alcolocks as standard, and if so, Ellisons will be ‘ahead of the game’.”

A driver who crashed a National Express coach carrying 33 passengers while he was one-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit in September last year was recently jailed for 10 months, banned from driving for four years and fined £500. The driver will also have to retake his test if he wishes to drive again following his disqualification.

Going too fast to negotiate a bend, the coach hit a kerb and tipped over onto its side at Newport Pagnell services on the M1 motorway in Buckinghamshire. Twenty-five passengers were injured, six seriously.

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