Filenews 30 January 2026 - by Ioanna Kyriakou
The possibility of installing the "alcohol interlock" system in specific vehicles is being reviewed by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works. This is a system that requires the driver to perform a self-breathalyzer test before starting his car. The review concerns both public and private fleets and is part of discussions to strengthen mechanisms for the prevention of alcohol-related road accidents. To date, many European countries have made use of it, such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Spain, Finland and Sweden.
MP Charalambos Theopemptou asked the Minister of Transport to inform the Parliament if there is an intention to change the legislation, so that such a system is applied to school buses or public transport vehicles and to vehicles of people with a driving history of being under the influence of alcohol or other substances, Mr. Alexis Vafiadis responded positively, stressing that the issue will be examined in cooperation with all competent authorities.
The minister clarified that the installation of the system had been considered in the past and had not been adopted due to inherent weaknesses and conditions that existed. He explained that the installation of these devices is possible either when provided for by law, or as part of a penalty for offending drivers convicted of driving offenses under the influence of alcohol, or as an alternative penalty, or as an obligation for vehicles of professional drivers and school bus drivers, or in the context of providing incentives to individuals and companies, for the voluntary installation of these systems.
For the mandatory implementation of the measure, it is necessary to amend a number of legislations, in order to differentiate the current philosophy of driving control under the influence of alcohol and the out-of-court regulation of the offense, with an increase in penalties and/or a reduction in the scope of out-of-court regulation. The main inherent weakness that had been identified, according to the minister, was the age of the fleet of motor vehicles in Cyprus, which did not allow the installation of such devices. This weakness still exists today, but it will gradually decrease, since now new motor vehicles have, by design, the ability to install such devices.
In addition to the above, the minister adds that the cost of purchase, installation and management (maintenance and surveillance) of this device should be taken into account, which is not negligible, since the cost for the first year of operation is in the order of €2,000, while the cost for control and maintenance for the following years, will be in the order of a few hundred euros for each bus, which will have to be taken over by the state. It is noted that school buses, but also for buses used in Public Passenger Transport contracts, there has been no relevant obligation of the contractors to install such systems.
For the mandatory application of the measure in the cases of people with a history of driving under the influence of alcohol, in addition to the necessary legislative regulation, the creation of mechanisms for monitoring both the proper operation of the system and any violations of the device by the driver is required. In the case of delinquent drivers, a paramedical/medical monitoring mechanism will also be required to determine whether he is able to hold and maintain his driving license, under the supervision of these devices.
What is the "alcohol interlock" system?
The "alcohol interlock" system forces the driver to undergo a breathalyzer test before starting his journey. In the event that the test shows that the set limit has been exceeded, then the device does not allow the car to start and the driver must find an alternative means of transport. In particular, when the driver enters the car and before starting the vehicle with the key, the breathalyzer will require the driver to blow into the special mouth of a respirator to determine whether he has used alcohol and whether he is able to drive, in accordance with the limits that apply in each country. In the event that the driver is found to have consumed more alcohol than required by law, then the engine will not start and the car will be immobilized.
It is worth noting that according to the data of the Traffic Police, in 2025, 43 of our fellow human beings lost their lives on the asphalt. Five of them were found to have alcohol or drugs in their blood. In addition, according to estimates by the European Commission, 25% of road deaths in the EU are related to alcohol consumption. Drunk driving is one of the three leading causes of death, while the other two main causes are speeding and not wearing a seatbelt. About 6,500 deaths could be prevented each year if all drivers followed the law and did not drive under the influence of alcohol. Europe is the region with the highest alcohol consumption in the world, with the European average of 9.2 liters of pure alcohol per year being indicative.
The European Transport Safety Council, about three years ago, published a video, with Greek subtitles, in which two Belgian drivers caught driving drunk talked about how the "alcohol interlock" helped them put an end to this dangerous habit.
