Tech That Prevents Drunk Driving , Could Be Coming to Every New Car in America.<br />NPR reports that federal automobile regulators have taken <br />the first step toward making technology to prevent drunk <br />and impaired driving a standard feature in new cars.<br />According to the National Highway Traffic Safety <br />Administration (NHTSA), the technology could help end a problem <br />that claims the lives of thousands of people every year.<br />Impaired driving crashes are 100% <br />preventable – there's simply no excuse or <br />reason to drive impaired by alcohol or drugs, Ann Carlson, NHTSA acting administrator, via NPR.<br />NPR reports that the NHTSA said it will allow regulators <br />to take a closer look at the technology and see <br />how it could be implemented across the U.S.<br />The technologies currently in development include <br />breath and touch sensors to detect alcohol and<br />cameras that monitor a driver's eye movements.<br />Among the supporters for the implementation of <br />the technology is Mothers Against Drunk Driving. .<br />Everyone involved in this rulemaking process <br />at NHTSA and everyone designing impaired <br />driving prevention technologies at car <br />companies need to understand that this is <br />about saving human beings from the horror <br />I've experienced and from the deaths and <br />injuries of tens of thousands of Americans, Tess Rowland, MADD national president, via NPR.<br />According to NHTSA data, 13,384 people <br />died in drunk driving accidents in 2021.<br />The agency estimates that the cost of deaths, injuries <br />and property damage equated to about $280 billion dollars <br />in lost wages, medical costs and other expenses.<br />In 2021, a bipartisan infrastructure law compelled <br />the NHTSA to develop federal standards that require <br />technology to prevent drunk and impaired driving.
