Personal Injury Blog

Federal Transportation Bill Includes Measure to Prevent Drunk Driving Accidents

February 17th, 2012
prevent drunk driving accidents

The new bill includes a measure that would increase funding for states that require drunk driving offenders to install ignition interlock devices in the car.

Last week, a federal transportation bill was introduced in Congress.  The bill includes a measure that would increase funding for states that require drunk driving offenders to install ignition interlock devices in the car.

This is a measure aimed at preventing drunk driving accidents, and San Diego car accident attorneys are hopeful that the bill will pass. Currently, 15 states in the US require all persons convicted of driving under the influence, including first-time offenders, to have ignition interlock devices installed in their vehicle.  The ignition interlock device measures the amount of alcohol in the person’s system, and prevents the person from driving if his alcohol level is above a certain limit.

California currently has a pilot program in place that requires all first-time DUI offenders to have ignition interlock devices installed.  The pilot program is currently in place in Tulare, Alameda, Sacramento, and Los Angeles counties.  The pilot program will continue till 2016, and if it is successful in reducing the number of drunk driving accidents in these counties, then it could be expanded to the rest of California.

The legislation being considered in Congress will reward states implementing ignition interlock device laws, by increasing the highway funds allotted to them.  The prospect of increased highway funds is especially alluring to states during a recession, when states have been struggling for funds for highway safety.  All the states have to do is implement a law that requires all DUI offenders to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle.

However, the bill is bound to meet stiff competition from the American Beverage Institute.  The beverage industry’s lobbying group severely opposes the idea of mandatory ignition interlock device installation in the vehicles of persons convicted of even a first time DUI offense.  According to the American Beverage Institute, mandatory ignition interlock laws like this will not differentiate between someone who is just slightly over the legal limit for alcohol, and someone who is seriously drunk.  The American Beverage Institute wants ignition interlock devices to be made mandatory for only those motorists who are found driving with large quantities of alcohol in their system.

In California, persons who have been convicted of driving under the influence can face severe penalties including the loss of their license privileges for a few months.  However, any San Diego car accident lawyer can tell you that mere license suspension does not act as a restraint for drunk drivers.  A motorist without a license is likely go out driving with a suspended license.  An ignition interlock device however, can prevent the person from driving at all if he or she is intoxicated.

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