We recently reported that traffic fatalities are down to the lowest level since 1954, and while that is great news, there is still more work to be done to save the almost 34,000 people who die each year on the roads. To that end, a bipartisan piece of legislation, the ROADS SAFE Act of 2010 (short for Research of Alcohol Detection Systems for Stopping Alcohol-Related Fatalities Everywhere) has been introduced by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Bob Corker (R-TN). If passed, this legislation would fund the development of new in-vehicle technologies that would prevent drivers from operating a vehicle if they are under the influence.
The bill funnels $12 million a year for five years to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to be used to research a number of technologies, such as a device that can determine a driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) when the driver touches the steering wheel or starter, and a sensor that can stop a car from starting if it detects a high BAC in a driver’s breath or eye movements.
Another part of the bill would be to make New Mexico’s ignition interlock program law in all states. This program mandates the installation of the interlock device for anyone convicted of a DWI and requires offenders to blow into the device before he or she starts the vehicle. It prevents the vehicle from starting if it detects a BAC greater than .025.
The legislators claim that if all vehicles were equipped with advanced alcohol detection technology, 8,000 lives would be saved.
Consumer Reports recently took a look at eight things that can dramatically improve auto safety, and one of which is to curb drinking and driving. In that report, we found alcohol was involved in 32 percent of all highway deaths.
—Liza Barth
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