Drunk Driving Tech: A Race Against Time

A law aimed at reducing drunk driving deaths is stuck in the slow lane. The law, passed in 2021, requires new cars to have tech that detects if a driver is drunk or impaired. This tech could be things like sensors that check for alcohol in the air or scanners that track eye movements. The goal is to stop the car if the driver is impaired. The law was named after Rana Abbas Taylor's family, who were killed by a drunk driver in 2019. Taylor has been fighting for this change ever since. She wants to stop the over 10, 000 alcohol-related deaths that happen on U. S. roads each year. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) calls this law the most important in their 45-year history. But there are problems. Some people worry about false positives. What if the tech thinks a driver is drunk when they're not? For example, a mom swerving to avoid a pet in a snowstorm might get her car shut off. Others say the tech isn't ready yet. They want more time to test it.The law faced a big test recently. A group tried to cut its funding, but they lost. Another group wants to repeal the law entirely. They say it's like a "kill switch" that lets the government control cars. But the alcohol industry says that's not true. They say the tech is passive, like seat belts or airbags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is still figuring out the rules. They expect to report back to Congress soon. Even supporters think the decision will be pushed to at least 2027. After that, car companies will have a few more years to install the tech. Some people are trying to speed things up. One bill offers a $45 million prize for the first working tech. Taylor says efforts like this give her hope. She's not giving up until this tech is in every car.