NHTSA Makes Initial Move Toward Mandating New Vehicles To Block Intoxicated Drivers

Drunk driving is a pervasive problem that continues to claim the lives of innocent individuals on our roads every day. It is crucial that we understand the devastating impact of this behavior and work towards finding effective solutions.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has initiated the process to implement the installation of a device in cars to prohibit intoxicated or incapacitated driving.

On Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed that they are initiating a new federal safety standard that will necessitate the inclusion of technology into all new passenger vehicles.

In 2021, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that necessitated the use of particular devices.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that they will be issuing an advance notice of proposed rule making to gain insight into the current state of technology for detecting impaired driving. When the technology has been sufficiently developed, the regulation will establish standards for the devices, according to the NHTSA’s statement.

The process of implementing new regulations often takes a number of years, during which public comment periods will be held.

According to recent data from the NHTSA, alcohol-impaired driving accounted for approximately 28% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. This translates to an average of 10,142 lives lost each year due to the irresponsible choice of getting behind the wheel while under the influence.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat who championed the regulation, stated that it is designed to keep intoxicated drivers off the highways and help prevent fatalities due to alcohol-impaired driving. According to Dingell, the technology involved is relatively straightforward.

A consortium of 16 automakers, in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has allocated resources to investigate the use of alcohol monitoring technology and created the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety.

The collective are examining a technology that would analyze a driver’s breath for alcohol without the driver having to blow into a tube, and a detector would examine the breath. If the driver is not in an appropriate state, it would prevent the vehicle from operating.

A different organization is exploring the use of light technology to detect blood alcohol levels through a person’s fingertip, according to the group.

On Tuesday, the NHTSA along with law enforcement announced the 2024 impaired driving national enforcement mobilization “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign for the end-of-year season. Greater enforcement will occur between Dec. 13 and Jan. 1.