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US House rejects amendment defunding impaired driving tech
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States has applauded the preservation of an impaired-driving prevention bill.
The US House of Representatives has rejected an amendment that would have stripped funding for anti-drink driving technology rulemaking at the Department of Transportation (DoT).
Last week, representative Thomas Massie introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 House Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would have blocked funding for section 24220 of the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act, which directs the DoT to promote a rulemaking for passive impaired driving prevention technology to be built into new vehicles starting in 2026.
Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (Discus) and Responsibility.org, applauded the decision, calling Massie’s amendment misguided.
“Even though impaired driving crashes are 100% preventable, the number of people killed in DUI [driving under the influence] crashes in the past couple of years has increased,” Swonger said.
“We must make use of all technology and tools at our disposal to save lives and increase safety on roads across the country and, with this amendment’s down-vote, America is one significant step closer to that goal. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Representatives who voted to reject this amendment, as it would have led to further unnecessary tragedy.”
Section 24220 of the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act was codified as the Honouring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate (HALT) Drunk Driving Act, named in honour of Issam and Rima Abbas and their children, who were killed in Lexington, Kentucky, by a drunk driver in January 2019.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that when implemented, the impaired-driving prevention technology could save more than 10,000 lives each year. The technology will intercept impaired drivers before they cause crashes.
Discus and Responsibility.org are committed to working with all stakeholders through the rulemaking process.
Discus and Responsibility.org have been aligned organisations since 2019.