Former chronic drink-driver turns life around with help of alcohol interlock device
Jens Johansen places the key in the ignition of his car. But before he starts the engine, he picks up an alcohol interlock device. He blows. He sucks. And shortly after, it wails. Only then, when it signals “pass”, can he start his car.
Today, Jens Johansen does not drive under the influence of alcohol, but three years ago, he could easily consume 21 drinks a day and still drive. This habit developed over several years. He would visit four to five clients each day, and no one ever mentioned him appearing intoxicated or smelling of alcohol. He did not feel it was irresponsible to drive, according to Johansen.
And there are many drivers who do the same.
New data from the National Police shows that over half of the nearly 28,000 drivers charged with drunk driving from 2018 to 2022 had a blood alcohol concentration over 1.2.
Reflecting on his past, Johansen acknowledges that he had an alcohol addiction. Therefore, he did not consider the risk of being involved in a serious traffic accident. “My common sense knew there was a risk, but if everything went well one day, I thought it would be fine the next day too,” he recalls.
Johansen was always up for a party and enjoyed alcohol, celebrations, and fun. But suddenly, it became too much. “Then it just escalated. It happened suddenly, and then the trap just closed. And eventually, it became an addiction,” he says.
Johansen was caught drunk driving four times by the police, but the real turning point came with his realization of his addiction. “I knew over a longer period that I had an addiction that had gotten out of control.”
Johansen sought help for his addiction in September 2021. Today, he is sober, but after having his driving license revoked, he is now part of an alcohol interlock program. The device prevents him from starting his car if his blood alcohol level is above the legal limit.