GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Volvo has announced that 25% of the trucks it sells in Sweden now come with a factory-fitted alcolock to prevent impaired driving.

While the truck maker admits impaired driving is rare among professional drivers, it also points out the alcolock is an increasingly popular spec’. Volvo claims to be the only truck manufacturer to offer the device as an option. The device prevents the vehicle from being started by a driver who is over the legal blood alcohol limit.

“Very few commercial vehicle drivers drive under the influence of alcohol. However, since the consequences of an accident with a heavy vehicle can be so serious, it is important to do everything possible to prevent anyone from getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol,” said Carl Johan Almqvist, traffic and product safety director with Volvo Trucks. “More and more customers are seeing the alcolock as a quality-enhancing tool – there should be no doubt that the company’s drivers are sober behind the wheel.”

Volvo points out other parts of the world are showing increased interest in the devices. Finland and France, for instance, both have enacted legislation requiring the devices to be installed on school buses.

“The attitude to alcohol in traffic has become much tougher in many markets in recent years, and I’m convinced that increasing numbers of haulage companies will soon realize the benefits of the alcolock. The Swedish example shows just how quickly a breakthrough can happen,” said Almqvist.