A Breathalyzer Might Be Mandated For Your Next Car

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Stopping drunk driving is a noble endeavor considering how many lives are senselessly lost to the reckless practice. However, how that’s done is where controversy enters the equation. The latest push to supposedly end drunk driving accidents in the future is getting a big endorsement from Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut who’s pushing for a new car breathalyzer technology mandated federally.

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In a splashy press conference recently. Senator Blumenthal demonstrated the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) installed in a Ford Mach-E owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Using a sensor sitting behind the steering wheel, the DADSS system measures the carbon dioxide emitted along with the alcohol in the driver’s breath. If the system concludes the person behind the steering wheel has a blood alcohol level that’s unsafe, the vehicle won’t start.

This isn’t too dissimilar to the breathalyzers installed in cars for repeat drunk driving offenders, as ordered by a judge. However, what Senator Blumenthal wants is for every American to receive the same treatment as repeat offenders.

He’s hoping the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will mandate every new vehicle sold in the US has a DADSS system installed from the factory. For many, that probably sounds like a great idea. After all, thousands of lives would be saved every year. But we have some reservations.

First off, cost. How much will DADSS systems increase the already steep cost of new cars? Ever increasing safety standards have help inflate new vehicle prices over the past two decades, and it seems like that trend will continue. When are cars safe enough?

On principle alone, being treated like we’re all repeat drunk driver offenders seems wrong. Why should we have a system in our vehicle which measures for intoxication if we’re responsible? What if we don’t even drink? This isn’t like airbags or side impact beams, this safety device is far more intrusive.

Will the DADSS system ever malfunction? Imagine if you aren’t drunk or haven’t even been drinking, but your car just won’t start because supposedly the sensor detects you’re too intoxicated. We know of no technology which always works correctly, so don’t tell us DADSS is the exception.

Also, the DADSS system won’t prevent non-alcohol intoxicated driving. That’s become an increasing problem, especially in areas with successful drug legalization movements. For whatever reason, some drivers don’t think it’s a big deal to get behind the wheel right after smoking pot or partaking in other substances which impair judgment.

Finally, if we allow NHTSA to mandate breathalyzers in cars, what will be next? Will we have to submit a blood sample? What other over-the-top safety measures will be forced on the public now that this brave new frontier in government regulation has been breached? There has to be a limit, and maybe this is it – that’s something members of the public need to be discussing rather than a small group of federal regulators just making the decision for everyone.

Image via SenBlumenthal/X

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