US Agency Moves Closer to Mandating Anti-Drunk Driving Technology in Vehicles

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has initiated the process of implementing a federal safety standard that would require new passenger vehicles to be equipped with devices to prevent drunk or impaired driving. The agency aims to gather information on the state of technology for detecting impaired driving and set standards for the devices once the technology is mature. In 2021, nearly 13,400 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, prompting the push for this regulation. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation is reviewing the announcement, and research is being conducted on alcohol monitoring systems that automatically test a driver's breath or blood alcohol levels.