The US has taken its first steps in the introduction of ‘alco-locks’ all all new cars.

It was brought forward by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in December. This opens the road to “impaired-driving prevention technology standard in new passenger vehicles”.

An Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) helps fulfil begins the legal framework. It’s a requirement in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and supports the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy.

 

Campaign season

This announcement came as NHTSA kicked off its annual holiday season Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over impaired-driving campaign. Similar to the regular campaigns in the UK, it raises awareness of the dangers of drin and drug driving.

Alcohol impairment is one of the leading causes of death on US roads. In 2021, the latest data available, 13,384 people were killed in drunk driving crashes.

The negative economic and societal costs of impaired driving are enormous. NHTSA estimates that fatalities, injuries, and property damage from alcohol-impaired driving costs society $280 billion. This amounts from in lost wages, lost quality of life, medical costs and more.

Legal power

Impaired driving prevention technology is an action identified in the country’s National Roadway Safety Strategy. It is believed it could significantly reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways in support of ‘vision of zero’.This aligns with the principles of a safe system approach.

Polly Trottenberg, the U.S Department of Transportation’s Deputy Secretary said: “The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking we are announcing today is the first step toward a new safety standard”.

“Impaired driving crashes are 100% preventable – there’s simply no excuse or reason to drive impaired by alcohol or drugs,” stated Trottenberg.

On the move

This ANPRM will gather information including the state of the current technology, how to deploy it  safely and effectively, as well as other areas of preventing and deterring driver impairment.

Alcohol-impaired fatalities in the US in the month of December hit a nearly 15-year high in 2021. More than 1,000 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in December 2021 alone.

Driving impaired by any substance – alcohol or other drugs, whether the substance is legal or illegal – is against the law in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.