$1T bill may require anti-drunk driving tech, hot car alerts for new vehicles

New York Post ^ | August 5, 2021 | 5:40pm | Mark Lungariello

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Anti-drunk driving technology may become standard on all cars in the next few years under one of the provisions baked into the $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill.

The 2,702-page bill under negotiation also includes a provision that would require manufacturers to equip new vehicles with an alert system to let drivers know that kids or other passengers have been left in the backseat after the engine has been turned off.

The new technologies would target alcohol-related car crashes and increasing incidents of kids dying in hot cars.

The bill defines the preventative technology for impaired driving as anything that could “passively and accurately detect” if someone’s blood alcohol concentration is above the legal limit.

“To ensure the prevention of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology must be standard equipment in all new passenger motor vehicles,” the bill states.

Stephanie Manning, chief government affairs officer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, stressed that the bill would require passive technology.

“We are not talking about Breathalyzers, we are not talking about ignition interlocks – those are punitive measures,” Manning told The Post.

[steve86]

Even my ‘96.5 Suzuki Sidekick has only a partial OBD implementation. No emission checks here but in the other part of the state I was told these were given a pass due to incompatibility.

[Dogbert41]

The penalty for drunk driving should be the loss of an eye. Two strikes and you are blind. Very cost effective and we all know it will work.

The penalty for murder should be death. It doesn’t matter how you murder someone. Used to be that way.

[Dr. Sivana]

I’m not sure if that was meant to be funny or intellectual, but I’m not impressed.

Neither. I was trying to make the distinction between the pull chain in the trunk and the rear view cameras and screens. The mandated pull chains are more akin to mandated seat belts. The cameras and screens and traction control and speed governors and anti-lock brakes and 14 air bags and ubiquitous CVTs and 4 cylinder turbos in large vehicles are all the fallout of cascading rules and agencies (e.g. emissions vs. safety) that can work at cross-purposes. The end result means more expensive cars that will be harder to keep running without computer help.

[Dr. Sivana]

No emission checks here but in the other part of the state I was told these were given a pass due to incompatibility.

I wish my '94 Roadmaster wagon had that kind of pass in Phoenix. When they saw I had the older OBD, they dragged out a huge ducted pipe, griping the whole time. They griped more when they discovered the car had a true dual exhaust and had to drag out another one. Well, the car blew more than double the allowed exhaust, and was sold to someone who would fix it up right.

[discipler]

And if your politics aren’t right? Will they turn off your driving privileges? I don’t trust these godless freaks.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Mary Jo Kopechne would be a live nobody today if Ted Kennedy had this tech

[Cold Heart]

The tech was available at that time. VW

[Born to Conserve]

Why single out drinker? Why not just ban all bad drivers, regardless of cause? Ban retards. Ban cell phone addicts. Ban cripples. Ban women. etc.

[5th MEB]

I don’t, screw them, they are mostly the ones who vote for this sh!t.

[cgbg]

No-one deserves the s*&^-storm that is coming...

[octex]

How will the tech determine that it’s a kid in the rear seat, or a bag of fertilizer or a couple of cases of beer?

When I run my errands I have several stops to buy things.

[Nifster]

Let the pogroms begin

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Doesn’t matter, as long as the company that makes it reaps a profit from its investment in the District of Criminals.

[1Old Pro]

God forbid they have tech that automatically disables texting when driving.