Drink-driver cars to be fitted with 'alcolocks'

Drink-drivers will be forced to have "alcolocks" installed in their cars as a condition of regaining their licences, it emerged today.

Under new plans, the locks will require the driver to blow into a mini-breathalyser and, if over the limit, will prevent the engine being started.

The measures, to be outlined in a road safety Bill, will also give police new powers to use roadside breath-tests as evidence in court. Those who reoffend or cause death or injury in a drink-drive crash will be the main target of the alcolocks, with drivers having to use them for a fixed period.

Anyone banned from driving for two or more years will also face mandatory re-testing.

But random breath-testing has been ruled out, along with proposals to lower the blood-alcohol limit to that of most European countries.