FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, November 12, 2020
CONTACT: Pete Daniels / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C)
Statement of Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Request for Information on Technology to Prevent Impaired Driving
Impaired driving caused 10,511 preventable deaths in 2018, accounting for nearly a third of all traffic fatalities. This is the equivalent of one alcohol-impaired driving fatality every 50 minutes. While today’s action by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a request for information on drunk driving prevention technology is a step in the right direction, the Agency should be taking major leaps toward a rulemaking to require impairment detection systems in all new vehicles. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety has been proud to work with Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Tom Udall (D-NM) and Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) to advance legislation that would achieve this goal. We urge Congress to pass this life-saving measure without further delay. With every passing day, lives are needlessly hanging in the balance.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is an alliance of consumer, medical, public health, law enforcement and safety groups and insurance companies and agents working together to make America’s roads safer. Advocates’ mission is the adoption of federal and state laws, policies and programs that prevent motor vehicle crashes, save lives, reduce injuries, and contain costs.
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