U.S. auto safety regulators say they have taken the first step toward requiring devices in vehicles that prevent drunk or impaired driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on Tuesday that it is starting the process to put a new federal safety standard in place requiring the technology in all new passenger vehicles.

Such devices were required in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was passed by Congress in 2021.

The agency says an advance notice of proposed rule making will help it gather information about the state of technology to detect impaired driving. The regulation would set standards for the devices once technology is mature, NHTSA said in a statement.

  • @reversebananimals
    link
    71 year ago

    I think we should just ban people from driving completely.

    Its free and people have been dying in vehicles for over 80 years. We can just stop selling cars, it doesn’t require telephony.

    The fact that driving hasn’t been banned already should be criminal in itself.

    /s

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
      31 year ago

      It’s a thought.

      Not a very helpful one but it is one option.

      Seriously, I can see commuters or shoppers being banned from driving downtown in big cities, and I don’t even think it’s a terrible idea. Have to stop at a park and ride and take a train or tram in. Which would allow the roads to be reduced to a single lane making room for public seating, food trucks, fountains/statues, stages, squares, greenery and other park features put in in the torn up lanes. Making it the kind of place people actually WANT to be in. Only have emergency services, delivery and tradesmen on the road.