Alcohol Detection Systems Will Now Be Mandatory in All New Vehicles

seems a little authoritarian. imagine you have to escape from a natural disaster, you were drinking prior and your car won’t let you get tf out of a tsunami, active shooter, whatever surprise moment you can think of where one minute you are listening to marvin gaye/otis redding sipping on some wine before bed.

the next moment a mob of violent criminals break out of jail, or one of your teenage daughters slips cracks her skull and the nearest ambulance is 30 minutes away, no uber but you are a little buzzed because you didn’t expect this was gonna happen?

are we gonna be banning alcohol again?

someone didn’t think through this regulation. contact me, i am good at this type of stuff.

I am going to guess that there exist 1 or 2 companies that make compliant sensors, and their list of shareholders recently grew by a few senators? This is how it usually goes

This is on pages 403, 404 and 405 of the bill, if anyone wants to actually look at it.

(1) ADVANCED DRUNK AND IMPAIRED DRIVING PREVENTION TECHNOLOGY.

The term "advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology" means a system that—

(A) can—

(i) passively monitor the performance of a driver of a motor vehicle to accurately identify whether that driver may be impaired; and

(ii) prevent or limit motor vehicle operation if an impairment is detected;

(B) can—

(i) passively and accurately detect whether the blood alcohol concentration of a driver of a motor vehicle is equal to or greater than the blood alcohol concentration described in section 163(a) of title 23, United States Code; and

(ii) prevent or limit motor vehicle operation if a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit is detected; or

(C) is a combination of systems described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).

They have 3 years to issue the rule, and then between 2 and 3 years after the rule is issued for it to go into effect.

Later on:

(e) TIMING.—If the Secretary determines that the Federal motor vehicle safety standard required under subsection (c) cannot meet the requirements and considerations described in subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of title 49, United States Code, by the applicable date, the Secretary—

They can just keep delaying if the technology isn't ready. But after a while, they have to start issuing reports to Congress about why it isn't ready.

I have a feeling the part A can be implemented while part B cannot. So that is probably going to be what happens. It will be interesting to see how they "limit operation" - no speeding, enhanced lane control, etc? Also, the whole "I was completely sober alert and unimpaired, but the car took over and made me crash" problem with liability.

I am guessing that there will be a racket for imports that are purchased outside the country. How else will the politicians be able to get around this law?

New vehicles are already totally loaded with spyware and telemetry. Everybody bent over without a thought, they will for this, too.

Time to buy another classic Toyota I guess.

Car manufacturers: "lol no"

Lots of problems with this idea. I doubt it will ever see the light of day.