Drivers have been warned of new driving laws and stricter rules for newly qualified licence holders as part of tougher plans to reduce road fatalities.
It comes after reports found drivers were increasingly voicing their support for compulsory safety measures in vehicles, including breathalysers and monitoring devices, as road deaths linked to alcohol consumption continue to climb, with Labour now set to act.
Fresh research uncovered widespread backing for technological interventions designed to combat dangerous driving behaviours.
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The push for stricter measures follows concerning statistics showing alcohol-related road deaths have risen by seven per cent between 2013 and 2023, with last year alone seeing 260 fatalities attributed to drink-driving incidents.
Alcohol-related road deaths have risen by seven per cent between 2013 and 2023
| GETTYThese figures have prompted policymakers to examine the introduction of built-in breathalysers that would prevent vehicles from starting without a clean breath sample.
The technology would require motorists to prove sobriety before their engine activates, potentially preventing intoxicated individuals from taking to the roads.
The report revealed that nearly four in five drivers surveyed expressed approval for vehicle-integrated breathalysers, with 49 per cent offering strong endorsement and 29 per cent showing moderate support for the technology.
The research also found that 62 per cent of participants believe the devices would substantially decrease alcohol-related driving incidents.
Earlier this month, Labour sources told GB News of plans to overhaul the drink-driving policy across England as part of the road safety strategy, with changes expected to be announced in September.
Labour plans to mandate black boxes in cars for newly qualified drivers
| GETTYMonitoring technology received comparable backing, with 60 per cent of respondents favouring the installation of tracking devices in new vehicles to record driving patterns, including speed and braking behaviour.
Support intensified when considering younger motorists, with 74 per cent advocating for tracking devices to be standard equipment in vehicles operated by recently qualified drivers.
This heightened concern reflects statistics showing young drivers feature in 20 per cent of serious collisions, with males under 25 facing quadruple the risk of death or serious injury compared to motorists aged 25 and above.
Meanwhile, the Department for Transport's July 2025 findings have intensified Governmental scrutiny of mandatory safety features for all newly manufactured vehicles.
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Officials have been evaluating whether breathalysers and monitoring systems should become legal requirements as part of broader efforts to reverse the decade-long upward trend in alcohol-related road casualties.
Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone said: "Given all we know about how devastating reckless driving can be, it's worrying to see that the figures have actually increased over the last 10 years.
"With the Government planning to make breathalysers and black boxes mandatory in new cars, we wanted to understand how drivers feel about these safety measures."
The proposed regulations would mark a significant shift in vehicle safety standards across the UK, with Mr Wilson emphasising that "implementing these devices could also allow insurers to set more accurate pricing for motorists who continuously drive safely".
The drink-drive limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath | GETTYHe added: "Fitting the likes of a black box could not only improve safety but also build greater trust between drivers and insurers and put pounds back in the pockets of those who drive carefully and take road safety seriously.
"Of course, introducing these features raises questions around privacy and data use, which will need to be carefully addressed to ensure public confidence."
Under current UK laws, drivers convicted of alcohol-impaired driving can be slapped with a range of punishments from custodial sentences to indefinite financial penalties.
This includes potential imprisonment for up to six months, unrestricted fines, and driving bans lasting at least twelve months.