The Government has ruled out mandating hardware that would make it easy to fit in-car breathalysers to new vehicles sold in Britain, while confirming it will require several other safety technologies. Following a Department for Transport consultation that closed in May, officials decided against making Alcohol Interlock Installation Facilitation (AIIF) compulsory, disappointing road safety groups who had hoped the measure would help curb repeat drink-driving offences.

AIIF is a standardised wiring and connection system that allows aftermarket alcolocks to be fitted to vehicles owned by drivers with previous drink-drive convictions, blocking the engine until a legal breath sample is provided. Instead, the Government will mandate a range of other measures from 18 safety features under consideration, including blind-spot warnings, tyre-pressure monitoring, drowsiness and attention-monitoring cameras, pedestrian and cyclist emergency braking, and Intelligent Speed Assistance, which warns or can actively slow drivers exceeding the limit. Ministers said AIIF would remain under review, though many new cars are still likely to arrive with it fitted anyway, as manufacturers avoid producing UK-specific models that differ from EU versions.