Impaired Driving Technology Can Prevent Accidents
Accidents caused by drunk driving seem to be on the rise across the country, increasing by 14 percent between 2019 and 2020 and climbing an additional five percent in 2021. Florida is not immune from this trend and actually regularly tops the list as one of the most dangerous states in which to drive. In recognition of this alarming trend, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that auto manufacturers start installing passive advanced impaired driving prevention technology and driver monitoring systems.
Auto Safety Standards for Impaired Driving Prevention
In 2021, federal lawmakers passed a law requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish a new auto safety standard for impaired driving prevention by 2023. Under Congress’s mandate, this technology must be included in all new vehicles by the year 2027. When installed, this technology would monitor not only the driver, but also driving behavior to help keep drunk drivers off the road.
Advanced Passive Technology and Driver Monitoring Systems
The technology that is currently being developed to help prevent drunk driving accidents is more advanced than breathalyzers or ignition interlock devices, which require that a motorist actually blow into the device. Instead, the new advanced systems will use a series of integrated sensors to passively determine whether a driver is impaired. Other systems attempt to prevent drunk driving accidents by:
- Monitoring vehicle movement through the use of lane departure warnings and collision assist; and
- Monitoring a driver’s head and eyes using cameras and other sensors.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), equipping new vehicles with this kind of prevention technology could end up saving the lives of more than 9,000 people every year and prevent hundreds of thousands of injuries.
Liability for Drunk Driving Accidents
Unfortunately, the latest technology is not yet being installed in the majority of new vehicles, which means that road users are still at risk of being injured in an accident caused by drunk drivers. In these cases, it is important for accident victims to seek compensation from the drunk driver who caused the crash. Compensable losses include medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle repair or replacement, and pain and suffering. To recover these types of damages, injured parties will need to prove that a driver was drunk at the time of the accident. This can be achieved by obtaining eyewitness testimony from those who saw the accident occur, footage from nearby traffic or security cameras, and a copy of the police report, which will include the results of a breathalyzer test.
Contact the Florida Car Accident Lawyers at Boone & Davis Today
If you or a loved one were injured in a DUI accident, contact the experienced Fort Lauderdale DUI accident lawyers at Boone & Davis for help. We can investigate the cause of your crash and assess the strengths of your case before advising you on your next steps. Get in touch with our legal team by calling 954-566-9919 or by completing one of our brief online contact forms.
Sources:
ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20220920.aspx
nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/alcoholanddrugs.pdf#:~:text=Alcohol
