US Agency Proposes Mandatory Drunk Driving Prevention in New Vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated the process of requiring devices in all new passenger vehicles that can prevent drunk or impaired driving. The agency aims to gather information about the state of technology to detect impaired driving and set standards for these devices. 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 automakers are working to enhance vehicle safety. The NHTSA and a group of automakers have been funding research on alcohol monitoring systems that can automatically test a driver's breath for alcohol and prevent the vehicle from moving if the driver is impaired.