Automotive News reports that
federal regulators are studying the potential implementation of vehicular technology
to detect drunk drivers. Nat
Beuse, associate administrator for vehicle safety research at the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has revealed that alcohol
detection technology is one approach the agency is exploring to reduce traffic
fatalities.
Specific details regarding functionality or
suppliers were not offered, but Beuse says an integrated alcohol detection
system in vehicles would reduce the number of alcohol-related fatalities on
U.S. roadways. While
vehicular fatalities have declined in recent decades, they still account for more than 33,000 deaths
annually and cost approximately $827 billion per year, he says.
The practical function of such a
system–disabling a vehicle versus displaying an alert to the driver, for
example–is a policy question that requires more deliberation, federal officials
say. The technology still requires additional development and testing, but
could be prepared for widespread implementation by 2018, reportedly.
