HUNTINGTON, N.Y. — Rainbow Chimes Inc., a nonprofit child care program, has taken a proactive step toward protecting the children it serves by having ignition interlocks from Sens-O-Lock of America LLC installed on its buses.

Ignition interlocks prevent a bus driver under the influence of alcohol from operating a vehicle. The driver must provide a clean air sample (meaning free of alcohol) prior to starting the bus. If breath alcohol is present, the bus will not start and the violation information is stored in the system for reporting purposes.

The Sens-O-Lock of America interlock technology also prevents drivers from leaving buses running in an attempt to bypass the system prior to returning to drive the buses.

"Protecting our children is of paramount importance to us. Although we have never had an alcohol-related incident, we want to assure parents of children attending Rainbow Chimes that their children will not be exposed to a driver under the influence of alcohol. Our partnership with Sens-O-Lock of America alleviates this concern," said Allan Kasof, delegate director of Rainbow Chimes.

Rainbow Chimes provides child care education for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 12 years. Since its inception in 1980, the agency has served more than 5,000 children and their families.

Sens-O-Lock of America is an ignition interlock service provider with offices in New York, Georgia and Florida.