HELENA — The Senate is endorsing a bill to let police require repeat drunk drivers to submit to a blood alcohol content check.
Senate Bill 42 would let police obtain warrants to require blood or breath tests for repeat offenders when they have probable cause of that person driving while intoxicated.
Republican Sen. Jim Shockley of Victor said his bill will let police obtain electronic warrants from the field to stop serious offenders from finding a way around drunk driving laws.
The bill was endorsed Wednesday by a 35-14 vote.
Also Wednesday, the Senate gave final approval to a bill to create a drunk driving classification called "aggravated DUI" that makes new punishments for repeat offenders. The bill will be transferred to the House.
SOURCE
Showing posts with label anti-drunk driving technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anti-drunk driving technology. Show all posts
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Guardian angel car stops drunk drivers
This vehicular prototype device is not only your whip, but also your guardian angel. The technology we’re talking about is a cool detection system that uses an automatic sensor to gauge a driver’s alcohol level before starting. If your alcohol level is too high, the car simply will not drive.
According to the Center for Disease Control, 32 people die in alcohol-related accidents every day, making an "alcohol-detecting" car extremely appealing to the U.S. Transportation department.
In a visit with QinetiQ North America, the creators of the technology, U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood showed public interest in such technology. The measure called the Driver Alcohol Detection Systems (or…DADS?) will measure the driver’s blood alcohol level, and if it’s above .08 the smart car won’t start.
Although similiar technology already exists, the current judge-ordered bulky tech requires the driver blow into a large tube before starting a vehicle.
This particular version of the technology is designed to be super sensitive and therefore less obtrusive, making it more appealing for major car manufacturers.
The device will analyze the blood alcohol content by analyzing the driver’s breath or skin using touch-based sensors placed on the steering wheel and door locks.
David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, estimated such technology could prevent as many as 9,000 fatal alcohol-related crashes a year in the U.S.
So far the program has received $10 million in research money from the NHTSA and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety.
But some critics argue that the system could never be 100% accurate. Sarah Longwell of the American Beverage Institute said, "Even if the technology is 99.9 percent reliable, that's still tens of thousands of cars that won't start every day.
"It's going to eliminate the ability of people to have a glass of wine with dinner or a beer at a ball game and then drive home, something that is perfectly safe and currently legal in all 50 states."
On the other hand, Laura Dean Mooney, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said the system could "turn cars into the cure."
Sadly, the anti-drunk driving tech won't available for at least 8-10 years.
SOURCE
According to the Center for Disease Control, 32 people die in alcohol-related accidents every day, making an "alcohol-detecting" car extremely appealing to the U.S. Transportation department.
In a visit with QinetiQ North America, the creators of the technology, U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood showed public interest in such technology. The measure called the Driver Alcohol Detection Systems (or…DADS?) will measure the driver’s blood alcohol level, and if it’s above .08 the smart car won’t start.
Although similiar technology already exists, the current judge-ordered bulky tech requires the driver blow into a large tube before starting a vehicle.
This particular version of the technology is designed to be super sensitive and therefore less obtrusive, making it more appealing for major car manufacturers.
The device will analyze the blood alcohol content by analyzing the driver’s breath or skin using touch-based sensors placed on the steering wheel and door locks.
David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, estimated such technology could prevent as many as 9,000 fatal alcohol-related crashes a year in the U.S.
So far the program has received $10 million in research money from the NHTSA and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety.
But some critics argue that the system could never be 100% accurate. Sarah Longwell of the American Beverage Institute said, "Even if the technology is 99.9 percent reliable, that's still tens of thousands of cars that won't start every day.
"It's going to eliminate the ability of people to have a glass of wine with dinner or a beer at a ball game and then drive home, something that is perfectly safe and currently legal in all 50 states."
On the other hand, Laura Dean Mooney, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said the system could "turn cars into the cure."
Sadly, the anti-drunk driving tech won't available for at least 8-10 years.
SOURCE
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