New Tech Push Against Drunken Driving
You have a few drinks, climb behind the wheel of your car, turn the key and — nothing. The engine doesn't turn over, the car doesn't move.
If Mothers Against Drunk Driving has its way, a device that checks a driver's alcohol levels will be mandatory in cars owned by anyone ever convicted of drunk driving, and, eventually, every automobile.
New Mexico already has such a law.
MADD, backed by a national association of state highway officials and car manufacturers, is announcing a campaign to change drunken driving laws in the other 49 states to require such devices for first-time offenders.
"We'll focus on that problem of separating the drunk driver from the vehicle," MADD president Glynn Birch told CBS Radio News.
About 13,000 people die each year in automobile crashes in which a driver was legally drunk. But the threat of arrest and punishment, for decades the primary tactic against drunken drivers, is no longer working.
"We've seen no progress in 10 years; we're completely stalled," Susan A. Ferguson, a researcher at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, told The New York Times.
The Times reports that California alone has about a million people driving with suspended or revoked licenses, according to Governors Highway Safety Association chairman Christopher J. Murphy.
Still, various groups and the federal Department of Transportation were announcing an enforcement campaign against drunken drivers. According to The Times, the Bush administration also is expected to announce its support for research into the devices, although it has not yet decided whether to push for wider adoption of New Mexico's approach.
There are nearly 1.5 million drunken driving arrests last year, but only 100,000 ignition interlocks are currently in use, so even tagging first offenders isn't really enough, says MADD.
"Generally, it's been proven that they will drive an estimated 88 times before they're caught the very first time for their first offense," Birch said.
Many states already require the ignition interlock devices for people who have been convicted several times. New Mexico, as of last year, is the only state to require them for first offenders. With that tactic and others, the state saw an 11.3 percent decrease in alcohol-related fatalities last year — and the rule only went into effect in mid-June.
"It is an integral part of our success," Gov. Bill Richardson told The Times.
Other states saw even greater decreases after requiring the interlocks.
"There are going to be different types of technology, such as trans-dermal detection that will have sensors to detect the blood alcohol level of an individual before he starts the car, so it doesn't allow the car to start," said Birch.
Another system has a Breathalyzer tube that the driver must blow into before starting the car, The Times reports. A third detects that a car is weaving down the road, and possible driven by an impaired driver.
"Biometric detection or identification will work like a thumbprint to identify and also give us an idea of who the driver is," Birch said.
Ferguson of the IIHS said the best systems will work automatically, without the need for the driver to submit to a test — or come up with ways to circumvent it.
"We don't want the soccer mom dropping kids off, going to the grocery store and the preschool, and having to blow into something every time," she said.
Those systems might eventually test all drivers, whether or not they have ever been convicted of drunken driving.
Both automobile manufacturers and liquor companies, through their trade associations, support ignition interlocks to some extent. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers helped a New Mexico task force establish that state's program, and favors the early use of the devices.
The Century Council, representing distillers, says it favors the New Mexico approach for first offenders, but only those caught with blood-alcohol levels far above the legal threshold.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. If Mothers Against Drunk Driving has its way, a device that checks a driver's alcohol levels will be mandatory in cars owned by anyone ever convicted of drunk driving, and, eventually, every automobile.
New Mexico already has such a law.
MADD, backed by a national association of state highway officials and car manufacturers, is announcing a campaign to change drunken driving laws in the other 49 states to require such devices for first-time offenders.
"We'll focus on that problem of separating the drunk driver from the vehicle," MADD president Glynn Birch told CBS Radio News.
About 13,000 people die each year in automobile crashes in which a driver was legally drunk. But the threat of arrest and punishment, for decades the primary tactic against drunken drivers, is no longer working.
"We've seen no progress in 10 years; we're completely stalled," Susan A. Ferguson, a researcher at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, told The New York Times.
The Times reports that California alone has about a million people driving with suspended or revoked licenses, according to Governors Highway Safety Association chairman Christopher J. Murphy.
Still, various groups and the federal Department of Transportation were announcing an enforcement campaign against drunken drivers. According to The Times, the Bush administration also is expected to announce its support for research into the devices, although it has not yet decided whether to push for wider adoption of New Mexico's approach.
There are nearly 1.5 million drunken driving arrests last year, but only 100,000 ignition interlocks are currently in use, so even tagging first offenders isn't really enough, says MADD.
"Generally, it's been proven that they will drive an estimated 88 times before they're caught the very first time for their first offense," Birch said.
Many states already require the ignition interlock devices for people who have been convicted several times. New Mexico, as of last year, is the only state to require them for first offenders. With that tactic and others, the state saw an 11.3 percent decrease in alcohol-related fatalities last year — and the rule only went into effect in mid-June.
"It is an integral part of our success," Gov. Bill Richardson told The Times.
Other states saw even greater decreases after requiring the interlocks.
"There are going to be different types of technology, such as trans-dermal detection that will have sensors to detect the blood alcohol level of an individual before he starts the car, so it doesn't allow the car to start," said Birch.
Another system has a Breathalyzer tube that the driver must blow into before starting the car, The Times reports. A third detects that a car is weaving down the road, and possible driven by an impaired driver.
"Biometric detection or identification will work like a thumbprint to identify and also give us an idea of who the driver is," Birch said.
Ferguson of the IIHS said the best systems will work automatically, without the need for the driver to submit to a test — or come up with ways to circumvent it.
"We don't want the soccer mom dropping kids off, going to the grocery store and the preschool, and having to blow into something every time," she said.
Those systems might eventually test all drivers, whether or not they have ever been convicted of drunken driving.
Both automobile manufacturers and liquor companies, through their trade associations, support ignition interlocks to some extent. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers helped a New Mexico task force establish that state's program, and favors the early use of the devices.
The Century Council, representing distillers, says it favors the New Mexico approach for first offenders, but only those caught with blood-alcohol levels far above the legal threshold.
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should have their head examined..
... for control issues..
(page 100, table 65)
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSFAnn/TSF2005EE.pdf
This data shows that the #1 attributable cause of death is failure to stay in lane/leaving road.
Our family took a driving class in WV this past summer: the instructors normally teach FBI, Secret Service, Diplomats, etc.
The training instructor told us that the #1 cause of accidents are people who overreact to minor problems, with particular emphasis on putting two wheels onto the shoulder: the normal reaction is to panic and hurry to get back on the road, so they JERK the wheel, but because you're on dirt, response is fairly slow ... but when the vehicle gets back onto the pavement, the tires grip and the vehicle goes into oversteer ... and then goes flying across the lanes and into oncoming traffic.
The primary victims? Young, inexperienced drivers is the one group. The second are Adults driving SUV's (which typically flip over).
Watch your local newspaper for the next week: in most metropolitan areas, someone will die on one of the roads you drive by this driver-caused error very soon: probably this very weekend.
Its not a DWI problem: it is poor driver training.
And here's the Holiday Gift suggestion for your loved ones on this very subject:
http://www.bsr-inc.com/AAS.HTM
IMO, its well worth the time and cost.
-hh
Statistically, a large percentage of DWI%u2019s are First Offenders, so what do we do to motivate - OUR - behavior preemptively, to remove all temptation to ever take the risk? That%u2019s not a technology question; it's a driver training question.
The problem with DWI is that its an easy target (Politically Correct), so let's change the framework of the discussion: since most people will agree with the notion of "Speed Kills", how do you feel about putting a GPS and highway database in every automobile, slaved into the electronic controls so that it is impossible for anyone to ever exceed the speed limit?
This would undoubtedly save lives, but are you really willing to have your next car cost $2000 more for this as a mandated feature?
If the answer is No, but you've already endorsed any of the DWI honesty machines, congratulations! You've just identified yourself as a hypocrite.
Hope this uncomfortable illustration helps people to really see the underlying issue here.
-hh
I am against drunk driving, I for one, rarely touch alcohol and if MADD has their way it will end up that I have to take a breathalyzer test every time I start my car %u2013 ridiculous
The solution is FIX the PUBLIC transport so that people can go out and drink and then use public transport to get home - hello that was a stroke of genius.
DWI is a Politically Correct target, but is it t really is the biggest problem? 61% of accidents don%u2019t involve DWI, so obviously not.
Investing in driver training would provide gains on driver fatigue, cellphone distractions and other 'bad' habits %u2013 not just DWI. There%u2019s an idea.
More disconcertingly, when I see people like Pensacola8 saying "Yes!", if you really believe that its worth spending money this, then do feel free to go spend YOUR money on it, but **HOW DARE YOU** force me to spend my money too. I'm not part of the problem, so get your hand out of my wallet.
The solution here is simple: use Market forces, not legislation.
If a 'honesty device' really has merit, convince the Auto Insurance companies to support its adoption through insurance rate incentives: a DWI offender would get a discount if they agree to have whatever 'honesty device' installed in their car. Parents could buy one to get a "sober student" insurance discount.
An important question to ask is why hasn%u2019t this road been taken?
Has it been tried, but not adopted because the Insurance companies found no risk benefit? Or has MADD been too egotistical to even consider this approach? Either possibility is damning.
-hh
Well any entrepreneurs out there you will be able to make a fortune, a new form of "designated driver" who can now wait at popular drinking spots and start cars for everyone who can't start their car.
I am against drunk driving, I for one, rarely touch alcohol and if MADD has their way it will end up that I have to take a breathalyzer test every time I start my car - ridiculous
The solution is FIX the PUBLIC transport so that people can go out and drink and then use public transport to get home - hello that was a stroke of genius. No more drunk drivers on the road.
Eight providers in Albuquerque are approved by the state to sell or rent interlock devices, which cost an average of $75 a month to rent, about $75 to install and between $25 and $50 to remove.
That is from
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2006/nov/21/many-drivers-dodge-nms-interlock-law/
My reading points to passenger/driver restraints, child safety seats, and motorcycle helmets actually making the biggest difference.
Alot more cost effective too.
shall not be construed to deny or disparage
others retained by the people...
IX Amendment to the US CONSTITUTION...
==========
It is Amazing the first Amendments
the BUREAUCRATS and POLITICIANS
want to forget is the IX & X Amendments..
That not a RIGHT,
The PEOPLE are SLAVES to the GOVERNMENT and the FAT BANKERS...