Drunk Driving Accidents: Can Technology Prevent These Accidents?
Drunk driving is one of the top leading causes of auto accidents. When involved in an accident with an intoxicated motorist, you risk suffering severe injuries that can adversely affect your life. For example, after such an accident, you could stop going to work because of an injury. Missing work can lead to lost wages. Other economic damages you could suffer after a drunk driving accident include medical expenses and property damage. Apart from suffering these and other economic damages, you could end up suffering non-economic damages like pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Due to the adverse effects of drunk driving accidents, you should consult an attorney to determine if you qualify for compensation if you’ve been in a drunk driving accident.
Can Technology Prevent Drunk Driving Accidents?
Senators Rick Scott and politician Tom Udall in 2019 proposed an Act that, if approved, would require new fleets to come with virtually unnoticeable, passive, alcohol detection systems. The proposed Act is known as the RIDE Act of 2019, with RIDE standing for Reduce Impaired Driving for Everyone. The Act would also allocate funds to promote the research, the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) Research Program has been conducting since 2008.
The DADSS Research Program is a partnership between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and several automobile manufacturers. Since its inception, the research program has researched and analyzed two technological approaches that can be incorporated in vehicles to reduce drunk driving. The two systems are;
- the breath-based system and
- the touch-based system
The touch-based approach involves assessing alcohol in human tissues, and the breath-based system involves assessing alcohol concentration in the motorist’s breath. The touch-based system is expected to detect alcohol when a motorist touches something they naturally would when they enter their car, such as the steering wheel. On the other hand, the breath-based approach is expected to detect alcohol by measuring the driver’s seat’s surrounding air. With the breath-based system, drivers will need to breathe as hard as they do when taking a breathalyzer test.
So, can technology prevent drunk driving accidents? Unfortunately, there is no way to tell until the technology becomes active. Nonetheless, one evident thing is that such technology will most likely need to be made compulsory, if any success is to be seen. Otherwise, many motorists won’t purchase it, considering the stubbornness associated with many motorists. Additionally, even after introduction, it will probably take years before each vehicle on the road has this technology since the installation will begin in new cars. However, even though it is impossible to tell the impact such technology might have on drunk driving, it is worth trying.
Contact Our Fort Myers Personal Injury Attorneys Today
Injuries caused by drunk driving accidents can have devastating effects on your life, and for that, you deserve fair compensation. If you were in such an accident and were severely injured, you should seek legal help. Contact a qualified personal injury attorney who can help you build a strong case and get compensation for all your damages. The Fort Myers personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm will support you through your case and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm represents clients in Fort Lauderdale, Ocala, Orlando, Tampa, Miami Bradenton, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
dadss.org/breath-based-technology/
