Courtesy of NPR
Federal automobile regulators say they’ve taken the first step toward making technology that prevents drunk and impaired driving standard in new cars.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday, December 13, 2023 that such technology could help end a problem that kills thousands of people in the U.S. each year.
“Impaired driving crashes are 100% preventable – there’s simply no excuse or reason to drive impaired by alcohol or drugs,” NHTSA acting administrator Ann Carlson said in a statement.
The advance notice of proposed rulemaking announced by the agency is a preliminary stage in the creation of new federal rules.
According to NHTSA, it will allow regulators to collect information about the current state of technology used to detect and prevent impaired driving and figure out if it could be implemented nationwide.
Some technologies in development include breath and touch sensors to detect whether someone drank alcohol, as well as cameras that can monitor a person’s eye movements to tell if they’re inhibited, Reuters reported.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving applauded the announcement and said it would push for the implementation of the technology as soon as possible.
“Everyone involved in this rulemaking process at NHTSA and everyone designing impaired driving prevention technologies at car companies need to understand that this is about saving human beings from the horror I’ve experienced and from the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of Americans,” said MADD national president Tess Rowland, who was hit head-on by a drunk driver in 2021.
“We must get this done. Lives are at stake,” she added.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group that represents automakers, said in a statement that it was reviewing NHTSA’s announcement.
“Every single day automakers are working to make vehicles safer and smarter and to help address avoidable tragedies caused by behavior like drunk driving,” the group said.
According to NHTSA, 13,384 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2021, making it one of the top causes of death on the road.
Deaths, injuries and property damage also amount to some $280 billion in lost wages, medical costs and more, the agency estimated.
The bipartisan infrastructure law passed in 2021 compels NHTSA to develop a federal standard requiring new passenger vehicles to include technology that can prevent drunk and impaired driving as long as it is “reasonable” and “practicable” and can reduce crashes and deaths.
Drunk Driving Tragedy – Interview With Client Frency Moore
Attorney Joe Zarzaur and special guest Frency Moore discuss the recent tragic events that lead to the untimely death of Ms. Moore’s mother, Cylea Lyrio and Stacy Wells, at the hands of a drunk driver all within a three-month period.
TWO LIVES IN FLORIDA WERE CUT SHORT DUE TO DRUNK DRIVERS
JZ – Unfortunately, your mom was killed by a drunk driver earlier this year. Your mom was a longtime employee at the Perdido Beach Resort, I think 20 plus years and did almost every job there, including hospitality, training of seasonal/temporary employees, etc.
The crew was pretty tight because the full-time people that were there year-round got really close because they sometimes had to run the show in the dead of winter.
Your mom was driving from West Pensacola. And then this past weekend, Ms. Stacy Wells, another longtime employee, was killed coming back from the Perdido Bay Beach Resort.
FM – Again, very similar situation where these employees make a commitment to work for the resort, and sometimes, they have worked late hours. They are working weddings; they’re working in a restaurant business; the bar industry and they are leaving between 8:00 PM and 2:00 AM, or even later than that at times.
JZ – They are driving during the hours that are very dangerous out there. Ms. Wells was driving home after her shift, and she was leaving later than she wanted to, like your mom, and this guy from Tennessee was drinking and driving hit her and killed her.
FM – Same, very similar situation to my mom’s story. The irresponsible driver ran either a red light or a stop sign and hit and killed Ms. Wells as she was driving home from work.
JZ – If people see this video, what can they do to help make this place safer?
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE OUR ROADS IN FLORIDA SAFER?
FM – Number One: Advocating for safe driving. I know that the people that work in the hospitality industry in the Perdido Key Beach area have organized a petition to directly get a hold of the Florida Highway Patrol and the Escambia County Sheriff’s office to advocate for DUI checkpoints and, and better patrolling of the area.
SIGN THE PETITION HERE – http://chng.it/VMkV8hDh67
CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE
The ECSO (Escambia County Sheriff’s Office) has responded very quickly to that request. But we can always continue to advocate for that because that kind of message can’t get lost.
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF
Number Two: Be responsible yourself. This is an era of technology. No one leaves their house without their cell phone and there’s an app that you can check into a restaurant, call Uber, or Lyft, or a taxi. You don’t have to be irresponsible.
When you infringe on someone else’s right when you’re driving drunk, you’re infringing on everyone else’s in the community’s, right to be safe.
Watch Our YouTube Video Of This Interview >
What Should You Do If You Are In A Florida Car Accident?
1. Call the police and file a report.
2. Swap information (including any insurance information they may have).
3. Gather details.
4. Take pictures/video
5. Gather the contact information of any witnesses.
6. Seek medical care immediately for any injuries, no matter how minor you think they might be.
GET MORE HELPFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO AFTER AN ACCIDENT HERE AT OUR “CAR WRECK CHECKLIST” >
Joe Zarzaur is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer whose firm has been promoting community safety since 2007. AT ZARZAUR LAW, WE PRACTICE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY, PRODUCT DEFECT, AUTO ACCIDENTS, CYCLING ACCIDENTS, MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, PRODUCT LIABILITY, WRONGFUL DEATH, COMMUNITY SAFETY, BOAT, AND JET SKI ACCIDENTS, AND SLIP AND FALL. Licensed in Alabama and Florida.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s important that you don’t make any rash decisions. Put yourself in the best possible position to receive the justice you deserve. It is also important to consult with a Board-Certified Trial Lawyer who has the knowledge and experience to help you. We know accidents can be stressful, and we want to make the process as easy as possible for you.
Call Zarzaur Law, P.A. today at (855) Hire-Joe for a free legal consultation or visit www.zarzaurlaw.com.
If you or a loved one is injured in a car wreck feel free to reach out to our firm for a free consultation at zarzaurlaw.com or 855HireJoe.
Sources:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/drive-sober-campaign-launch-winter-2023
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/12/drunk-driving-technology-cars-safety