This would protect against drunk driving

The proposal before the U.S. Senate includes a number of additional tightenings that will make traffic and vehicle use safer, from technologies that can detect forgotten children in the rear seats to autonomous emergency braking and collision avoidance systems to the rear underrun protection of semi-trailers. Although cars ran 13.2 percent less in the U.S. last year than a year earlier, the number of fatal accidents has increased 7.2 percent over the same period, meaning the situation is deteriorating alarmingly. In the U.S., more than ten thousand die each year from causes related to drunk driving.

It was also suggested in Europe a year ago that the introduction of an alcohol probe immobilizer be made mandatory, but it soon became clear that the general public was only misinterpreting legislation: it was only mandatory for car manufacturers to prepare for the probe to be installed, ie a standard connector which allows for easy and reliable installation of the probe at a later date. At the same time, steps have already been taken towards the use of the technology in some countries and for certain brands.

If the legislation votes in favor of the North American initiative, it is likely to affect the entire global automotive industry, as if a technology is mandatory in cars in one of the world's largest new car markets, the same technology could be introduced much more easily and cost-effectively in other markets. affected models. According to Reuters, if the legislation is passed, the technologies in question could become mandatory in roughly five years: the Department of Transportation will have to develop a system of standards within three years, to which carmakers will have to adapt within two years.