The NHTSA has been trying to put breathalyzers in new cars since at least 2015 and new legislation suggests they may finally succeed.
As Landline Mediaexplains, “an already large bill has developed into an enormous one. House Democrats merged the nearly $500 billion highway bill, or INVEST in America Act, into a larger infrastructure package with a $1.5 trillion price tag.”
A press release reveals that this new bill would treat every American like a potential criminal and force them to breathe into a breathalyzer every time they get behind the wheel.
To honor the Abbas family’s legacy to stop drunk driving by directing NHTSA to prescribe a motor vehicle safety standard requiring passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with an advanced drunk driving prevention system that detects if the driver is intoxicated.
In less than five years, the “Moving Forward Act” will require all passenger vehicles be equipped with drunk driving-detection technology.
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prescribe a final rule containing the motor vehicle safety standard required under this sub-section. The final rule shall specify an effective date that provides at least 2 years, and no more than 3 years, to allow for manufacturing compliance.
This bill would accelerate the development of breathalyzers in new cars.
The Secretary shall work directly with manufacturers of passenger motor vehicles, suppliers, safety advocates, and other interested parties to accelerate the development of the drunk driving prevention technology required to prescribe a motor vehicle safety standard.
The term “advanced drunk driving prevention technology” means a passive system which—
monitors a driver’s performance to identify impairment of a driver;
a system which passively detects a blood alcohol level exceeding .08 blood alcohol content; or
a similar system which detects impairment and prevents or limits vehicle operation (for more information read Section 32005, page 1446).
DADDS and the NHTSA are working together to put breathalyzers and touch sensors in every new car.
The DADSS research program brings together the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, which represents the world’s leading automakers, and the NHTSA in one of the most important government and private sector partnerships in recent years.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s press release revealed how excited MADD is about putting DADDS in new cars.
MADD applauds Chairman Frank Pallone and Chairwoman Jan Schakowsky for their leadership to save lives in this legislation,” said MADD National President Helen Witty. “This bill makes traffic and automotive safety a top priority.
We also commend Rep. Debbie Dingell for her steadfast commitment to drunk driving prevention. The bill includes her HALT Act which sets a reasonable time frame to equip all new passenger vehicles with passive, advanced drunk driving prevention systems.
“We need the installation of advanced drunk driving prevention systems in all passenger vehicles. For decades, working together with MADD and other advocates we’ve pushed for legislation. Including my drunk driving legislation in House Democrats’ comprehensive infrastructure package is a huge step forward in curbing drunk driving on American roads,” Dingell said.
Treating people like suspected criminals every time they get behind the wheel is not about traffic and automotive safety, it is about perpetuating an atmosphere of being guilty until proven innocent.
This bill and others like it only serve to increase Big Brother’s ever-expanding reach into Americans’ daily lives.
Seems a little tape and some gloves would defeat it. It's fine for people that want it but as always, such optional systems eventually become mandatory for all. Then there's the issue of a malfunction of this sensing system causing cars to not start or stall out on the highway, both of which could increase inconvenience and danger if someone were in a desperate situation or then stuck on a 4 lane highway, unable to move. Then there's the potential for cough syrup or other medicine to cause a false positive reading.
Things like this might work fine for a car less than 3 years old, but what if the car is 12 years old? It's one more thing that starts to break down and needs fixing or just plain disabling by a non-drinking or responsible drinking adult car owner.
Reminds me of the congressionally mandated passive seatbelt system in the early 90's. Cars either needed airbags or this passive system where the shoulder belt is attached to the car door where it slide forward and back on a motorized track. The lap belt was still fully manual. I had one, and always wore my seat belt in my compact car, but when I got this thing which I paid extra for, with the cost added into the final car cost, I often discovered I had forgotten the lap belt well after starting driving. The sense of the shoulder belt fooled me into thinking I was fully belted in, but get into an accident with only the shoulder belt could mean decapitation, and it did happen to some unlucky people.
I am sick of these safety measures which add cost and in many cases reduce safety.
Or you could blow into a balloon when you're sober, drink up, then use the air in the balloon to unlock the breathalyzer.
It's more passive than that. You don't blow into it. It continually monitors the air in front of the driver, such that if you drive by a riot and someone sprays high proof cheap liquor into your face, your car will shut off. Maybe.
Wouldn't that be an awesome safety feature!
But obviously a car owner could defeat such a system any number of ways, given the opportunity to study how it works and devise countermeasures. Which means the congress will pass more laws making tampering with it a felony crime.