Auto insurance company Allstate says it supports federal research into high-tech devices that could automatically prevent drunken driving for the same reason it advocated for seat belts, air bags and other safety measures: to save lives.
The
automobile insurance coverage provider is one of more than 20 groups and companies urging Congress to approve $60 million for a five-year program to develop systems that could detect alcohol in motorists' bodies and stop them from driving if they are over the limit.
“Allstate is a strong roadway safety advocate,” spokeswoman Kate Hollcraft said, “and we continue to support opportunities like this that have the potential to save lives.”
The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) program is studying “in-vehicle” technology that would measure a driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) through touch sensors on the steering wheel or by monitoring a driver’s breath or eye movements.
DADSS is a joint effort of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a dozen automakers, including BMW Group, Ford Motor Company and Toyota.
NHTSA officials say more than 10,800 people died nationwide in crashes involving a drunken driver in 2009, the most recent year for which statistics were available. Those deaths accounted for nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities.
In a presentation in April of last year, the NHTSA said that in 2005 about 10,000 lives could have been saved if vehicle technologies limited driver BAC to specified levels.
NHTSA has said its goal is to eventually outfit all vehicles nationwide with the technology.
Proponents say the systems should not trouble sober drivers because they operate passively, meaning drivers would have to participate in no tests.
Allstate Insurance and other organizations signed a letter sent last week to Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, urging them to include a bill authorizing funds for the DADSS program in the next round of funding for surface transportation programs.
The bill would authorize $12 million a year to fund the ongoing research. A version of the bill was approved last year by a Senate transportation committee.
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