Drunk driving is a problem that has plagued American roads for years. Driving under the influence can impair judgment, reduce reaction time, and lead to legal consequences, injury, and death. Recent statistics show that fatal alcohol-related car accidents are on the rise. The good news? Steps are being taken to reduce the number of these tragedies. One step is to add drunk driving prevention technology to all new vehicles by 2026.
Fatal alcohol-related car crashes are on the rise
MADD reports that alcohol-related fatal crashes increased 9% in 2020 compared to 2019, even as vehicle miles traveled fell 13%. Those estimated fatalities involved automobiles, motorcycles, and people walking and driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In 2020, 38,680 people died in motor vehicle crashes, the most significant increase since 2007. This represents a 7% increase in total traffic deaths in 2020 compared to 2019. The Administration Federal Highway Administration showed that vehicle miles traveled decreased by 430,000 million.
Drunk driving prevention technology in cars is coming soon
How can we solve this problem? One solution that is sure to have an impact is a mandate requiring all new-build cars to have drunk-driving prevention technology by 2026.
This technology is known as the “Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety” (DADSS). It will detect when a driver’s BAC exceeds the legal limit of 0.08%. If the system detects that someone is impaired behind the wheel, it will warn them to pull over or call for help.
The concept of the mandate is simple: if cars come equipped with this technology, it will deter people from getting behind the wheel while drunk. The hope is that this technology will save lives.
How else can drunk driving be prevented?
In addition to this drunk driving prevention technology, there are already other programs and measures that have helped reduce alcohol-related crashes on America’s roads. High-visibility law enforcement campaigns such as “Click It or Ticket” have successfully raised awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and prevented people from making bad decisions behind the wheel.
In addition, minimum drinking age laws have saved thousands of lives since 1975 by preventing underage drinkers from accessing alcoholic beverages in bars, restaurants and stores.
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that minimum drinking age laws have saved more than 31,000 lives between 1975 and 2017,” reports the National Safety Council.
Let’s stop drinking and driving
Alcohol-related crashes are a serious problem that has caused too much tragedy for too long. We hear about it all too often in the news. Fortunately, steps are being taken to address this problem, including drunk-driving prevention technology in all new-build cars by 2026. Although more work needs to be done before we can declare victory against accidents related to alcohol, these initiatives provide hope that car safety will continue to improve.
