A research project called DADSS (Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety) is now in progress and aims at one day eliminating drunk driving and the car accidents that it causes.
In just the 2010 year, drunk driving accounted for nearly 1/3 of all highway deaths, amounting to 10,229 in total. It is estimated that another 350,000 people were injured as a result of DUI crashes. The cost of drunk driving to our country was an astonishing $132 billion.
To combat the drunk driving epidemic, DADSS, a joint effort of the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is developing in-vehicle technology that would be able to constantly and passively detect a driver's blood alcohol level (BAC). This technology will be set to detect drivers who reach or exceed the nationwide legal limit of .08 BAC.
Unlike ingnition interlock devices, this new technology would not require any blowing or active participation in order to work. It will simply detect it BAC passively while he or she operates their vehicle.
The project has already received great support from the U.S. Senate, who recently, in a bipartisan effort, included a provision in MAP-21 that would authorize $24 million over two years for DADSS.
As a Phoenix car accident attorney, this is very good news. There are far too many individuals dying as a result of preventable car wrecks. Being an personal injury lawyer for over 25 years, I have seen the devastating effects that this epidemic has had on our society.
The movement to put an end to DUI's and drunk driving has been growing steadily over the years and we hope that the above-mentioned technology can be put into action soon.
As always, our Phoenix car crash law firm will keep you updated.
No Comments
Leave a comment