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By 2026, a trillion-dollar bill will come into effect with the signature of President Biden. This bill pertains to the installation of drunk driving systems in new cars. All motor vehicle manufacturers will be required to abide by these regulations. The aim with these regulations is to decrease the number of drunk drivers who feel comfortable enough to travel on the road while in a condition that makes them unsafe for themselves and the people around them.
However, there are a few reasons why the government is being held back in pushing this legislation. One reason is there are not currently enough options when it comes to the kind of technology that will be installed into the cars. One option is ignition lock devices which can be installed into vehicles to stop them from driving. These devices are often court-mandated by a judge for those who have been convicted of driving under the influence. These ignition devices involve a breath test before the driver is allowed complete access to their motor vehicle.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are mostly in favor of this bill being passed because they believe that this will result in keeping drivers and pedestrians safe. Surveys show that more than 9000 people per year are killed due to drunk driving, whether it be the driver’s death or somebody else on the road. The president of MADD, Alex Otte, claims that the passing of this bill will get rid of the primary cause of people getting killed on the roads of America.
The equipment is required to make sure that the driver is thoroughly monitored and ensure the driver’s senses are not impaired. However, there are ambiguities as to what technology will make sure of this or what passive monitoring is.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2017, 68% of the deaths were caused by drunk drivers who were at a blood alcohol concentration of above 0.15%. John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (Auto Innovators), was appreciative of the fact there was leniency on the kind of tech that is to be used. More than one provision in the legislation references the development of relevant technology that would save more than 10,000 lives each year.
Scott Schmidt, the Vice President of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, asked for the technology to be as precise as possible. He compared this bill to a provision in the 1970s that required a monitoring device to ensure that drivers were wearing seat belts while driving at all times. However, it was revoked because the masses did not approve of the bill. To make sure this bill is received well, accuracy in the technology’s recording of data is important.
As noted by many Charleston DUI lawyers, people who are supposed to be under surveillance should feel comfortable with this device in their car, or the bill could be repealed much like its predecessors. Saving lives is important, but allowing individuals to maintain their privacy in the comfort of their own vehicle is important as well.
The drunk driving situation in America is currently taking thousands of lives every year. The best route requires a simple majority to be in favour of the bill for it to be successful in the near future.
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