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People Want Devices to Stop Drunk Driving Accidents

Researchers were surprised to discover that the majority of people support devices that will stop drunk driving accidents. A new survey by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that people across the country liked the idea of using technology that would prevent drunk drivers from starting their vehicles. This technology is not yet available, but the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety program, a partnership between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, is looking into the possibilities.

The survey polled 1,004 individuals and found that about 2 of 3 respondents thought alcohol detection devices were a good idea. In fact, nearly 40 percent said they would want one of these devices in their vehicles. This survey was the Institute’s first research into what the public thinks about equipping cars with alcohol detection devices that are more advanced than ignition interlocks. An ignition interlock is a device that measures the driver’s breath-alcohol concentration before starting the vehicle. Convicted drunk drivers are sometimes required to have ignition interlocks. To date, approximately 180,000 interlocks are being used nationwide.

Anne McCartt, the senior vice president for the Institute, stated that “the results are clear-cut and a bit surprising. We didn’t expect to find support across the board for the idea of detecting alcohol in everybody, but this survey tells us that people are ready to crack down on all impaired drivers, not just those who’ve had DWI convictions.”

There are a lot of hurdles that will need to be overcome for these alcohol detection devices. The device will need to be suitable for all drivers and will need to require little maintenance. The alcohol detection device would stop drivers from using their cars if they register a 0.08 percent blood alcohol content or above.

Only time will tell if these devices will be able to stop the number of New York drunk driving accident cases each year. If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York car accident caused by a drunk driver, contact the law firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine at 800.734.9445 for a free legal consultation. Our New York car accident lawyers represent accident cases in Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and throughout the state of New York.