US Moves Towards Mandatory Drunk-Driving Detection Tech in New Vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration begins process to potentially require passive technology to prevent drunk driving, following a 2021 Congressional directive.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has begun the process of potentially requiring new vehicles to include technology that prevents drunk driving.
The move follows a directive from Congress in 2021 to mandate a passive technology to avert more than 10,000 road deaths annually.
The NHTSA is exploring various technologies, including breath- or touch-based sensors to detect alcohol, and cameras to monitor eye movements to determine if drivers are intoxicated.
The agency is seeking public input on the technology and its implementation, with a focus on ensuring accuracy to avoid false positives.
The final regulation must be standardized by November 2024, but the process of creating new vehicle regulations can take months or even years.