According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009, 33,908 Americans lost their lives on our nation's highways. Approximately 32 percent (10,839) of the human losses were the result of drunk drivers. Each year, millions are arrested for driving under the influence. As the federal agency with a mission of keeping America's roadways safe, the NHTSA has worked to curb impair or drunk driving through various programs. On January 28, 2011, the federal agency announced the development of a new technology-related initiative, Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS).
DADSS is a new alcohol detection technology which is designed to prevent an intoxicated person from operating their motor vehicle. With technology being developed by Massachusetts-based QinetiQ North America, DADDS incorporates breath and skin analysis. Under its touch-based system of tissue spectrometry, the prevention technology will determine blood alcohol concentrations. Through the distant spectrometry component of the system, a driver's breath will be analyzed to detect alcohol. If either system detects alcohol concentrations at or above the level limit of .08, the car's systems will be disabled and the alcohol-impaired driver unable to operate their car.
The war against drunk driving has primarily been fought through educational and law enforcement initiatives. With DADSS, a five-year, $10 million cooperative initiative between the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) and the NHTSA, technology will become part of the prevention arsenal. A number of industry stakeholders, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Federal Affairs at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, applaud the emerging technology. DADSS offers a less intrusive technology that is an improvement over other safety technologies, such as alcohol interlock systems, which were inconsistent and unreliable.
While the DADDS technology may not be widely available for another 10 years, the technology has been touted for having the potential to save many lives. According to the NHTSA, almost 9,000 traffic fatalities may be prevented each year through the use of alcohol detention and car disabling devices.
While new technologies, educational initiatives and law enforcement efforts are all elements in the fight against drunk driving, a person convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) may face more than criminal penalties. The impact of a DUI conviction may last a lifetime, so even people accused of DUI for the first time must take the charges seriously. For drivers facing drunken driving charges in Phoenix, contacting a reputable DUI lawyer will be the key to protecting their rights.
