When an alcohol interlock is installed in a shared vehicle or a work vehicle used by several people, drivers look for usage guidance and contact details on the info card inside the vehicle. An interlock is a device that controls engine starting based on results such as the driver's breath test, and depending on the vehicle, a handset and a control unit connected to the vehicle's power and starting system are installed together. If the phone number or QR code on the card that drivers look at first when a device problem occurs on the road is out of date, it is hard to get the help they need, even if an up-to-date electronic document exists.
A contact change is complete only when both editing the file and replacing the card in the vehicle are done. In particular, when vehicles are out on the road or the card is kept in a different place in each vehicle, old cards are easily left in some vehicles. The key to confirming the replacement is not whether a new file was created, but whether drivers can actually find the latest contact route and guidance document in each vehicle.
First, sort out what changed and which vehicles it applies to
If contact details have changed, it is best to identify what exactly changed before simply fixing the number. The part of the card to edit depends on whether the main number of the department in charge changed, whether the support desk reachable at night changed, or whether the address of the usage guide the QR code links to changed. Even if a call goes through, you should also confirm that the person who answers is in a role that handles device usage inquiries, so that the card's wording and the actual response do not diverge.
Also define the vehicles to be updated as a list. Checking the vehicle plate number or internal management number, where the card is placed, and the version marking on the existing card line by line makes it easy to find vehicles that were missed. At this stage, also flag vehicles with no info card at all, vehicles with cards in two or more places, and vehicles whose device setup differs because of a vehicle swap or temporary assignment.
DATECH's official AF-i1 product information lists the handset, control box, and dedicated software, among other items, as components. However, this information alone does not let you write the same device configuration or usage procedure for every vehicle. When you put a model name or usage guidance on the card, match it to the documentation for the device actually installed in that vehicle, and it is safer to link to the applicable official guidance for detailed operation rather than shortening it on your own.
Check the electronic original and the card in the vehicle separately
After editing the PDF in a shared folder or an internal posted document, manage it so the new version can be identified. If you put the needed information, such as the revision date, version marking, or reason for change, on the card, people on site can tell new cards from old ones. However, there is no need to fill the card with internal management details or personal contact information. What comes first is the contact route and document link drivers need to ask for help.
Physical replacement must be confirmed vehicle by vehicle. If cards are kept in different places in each vehicle, such as a driver's-side storage compartment, a document folder, or a holder near the device, the fact that printed cards were handed out does not mean the replacement is done. The person checking on site finds the existing card in that vehicle and either collects it or clearly marks it as no longer in use, then confirms that the new card has been placed in the designated location.
| What to check | What to actually look at | State that counts as replacement complete |
|---|---|---|
| Info card original | Changed contact details and QR code, version marking | Printed or distributed with the latest approved content |
| Card in the vehicle | Where the card is kept and the printed version | Old card cleared away and new card in place |
| Connection route | The document the QR code opens and the phone connection | Guidance and contact point accessible to drivers open correctly |
Recording the replacement with photos is also an operational option. In that case, you only need to photograph the area showing the card's version and placement, and it is best to limit the frame so that driving documents or other people's information in the vehicle are not captured. If photos are difficult, you can record the check date and the person who checked in the vehicle list, so you can tell who looked at the physical card in which vehicle.
Test the QR code and phone number in the conditions of use
For the QR code, do not just check whether a smartphone camera reads it. Confirm that the needed guidance document opens even when the driver is not logged in. If you link to a repository that opens only with an administrator account or a document that requires permissions, the person who sees the card in the vehicle may not be able to read the content. Conversely, you must not link to material containing device test results or personal information through a public link for convenience. It is appropriate to keep shared guidance documents and individual result data in separate storage locations.
For phone numbers, check separately whether a call goes through and whether the inquiry gets handled. If the number connects only to an automated answering system, clearly stating that and the next guidance route on the card reduces confusion. Considering situations where there is no signal or a mobile phone is hard to use, you can also decide, according to your operating purpose, whether to include a minimal alternative contact method on the card.
As a hypothetical example, suppose the phone number of the department in charge changed, and the electronic guide and the document the QR code links to were updated, but in 2 of 10 vehicles the paper card remained the old version. Checking the vehicle list shows that the replacement check was missed for both vehicles because they were out on the road. This means the problem is not the file edit, but that physical distribution is not finished. Set the next time each vehicle comes in or is handed over to replace the card, confirm that drivers can actually get guidance through the QR code and the changed number, and only then mark the replacement item for that vehicle as complete.
Leave vehicles that cannot be updated immediately as incomplete
Vehicles out on the road may not get their cards replaced the same day. In that case, rather than treating the whole replacement as finished, it is better to keep a list of the vehicles that still have the old card and when they will be updated. Rather than passing it vaguely to the next driver, naming the person who takes over the vehicle or the person who will replace the card on site reduces the chance of something being missed.
You can also consider separating the roles of the person who edits the original and the person who checks the card in the vehicle. One person can do both, but publishing the file and checking the physical card are different actions. Separating the roles makes it easier to spot a situation where the latest file exists but the old card remains in the vehicle.
The card's location is also something to check in the actual vehicle. If it is placed where it interferes with driving controls or blocks the view, it will be hard to keep using even though the guidance is there. If you finish the contact change only when the vehicle-by-vehicle replacement check, the QR access test, and the confirmation of the contact point's role are all done and no old version remains, you reduce the chance of drivers following wrong contact information in the vehicle.
