The Department of Transportation and leading auto-makers are working on ways to combat drunk driving as this behavior kills around 10,000 people annually in the United States. A new test vehicle unveiled on June 4 in Washington, D.C. may be the answer to preventing impaired driving as an Alcohol Detection System installed in the vehicle can measure one’s blood alcohol concentration in less than a second.
Operation and Benefits
If someone tries to drive a vehicle with an Alcohol Detection System, the vehicle will only move if the driver has a BAC within the legal limit. While this technology is not ready for use yet, researchers hope it will eventually become a safety option for new vehicles. The system could potentially work by touch or by measuring BAC while a driver breathes normally. The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration thought this technology would be helpful when geared toward specific groups like commercial and teen drivers, and one estimate indicates that this device could save 7,000 lives a year.
The Current Situation
Efforts to keep people on the road safe and to reduce drunk driving are important and valuable, but those accused of a DWI are innocent until proven guilty and have the right to a trial. While you might think you have few options when facing drunk driving charges, you may wish to consult a Minneapolis DWI Lawyer who can evaluate any evidence against you and form a plan of action. In some cases, improperly obtained evidence can be thrown out while evidence resulting from some sobriety tests may be faulty and inaccurate.
Contact us when accused of a DWI related crime so we can help protect your rights.