Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting the lab where they are researching the end of drunk driving. And once again, I became a mom for DADSS.
Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, DADSS for short, is our hope for the future to ELIMINATE drunk driving. Two prototypes of advanced technology are being studied. One is touched-based and one is breath-based.
While more research needs to be done, both technologies are working toward the goal of accurately and precisely detecting how much alcohol is in the driver’s system. In all 50 states, a legally drunk driver—someone with a .08 BAC or higher—would not be able to operate the vehicle if this technology comes to fruition.
This is exciting, but more importantly, it is happening. DADSS has surpassed expectations and has entered into phase two of research. We will see this in our lifetime and I got to see it with my own eyes.
Unfortunately, current funding for this research program will end in 2013, but I have worked with our public policy team in Washington to include funding for DADSS in the new Senate transportation bill. We now look to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to also support the funding as the bill moves forward. If the House does not act, the future of DADSS will be unclear. To me, that means thousands of people will die at the hands of drunk drivers before Congress sees fit to protect us by funding this research again.
Congressman Mica is Chairman of this committee. Please click here and ask your member of congress to tell Chairman Mica to agree with the Senate and fund DADSS research in the next highway bill.
DADSS has the potential to eliminate drunk driving in America. We must do everything we can to ensure this project receives funding for phase three.
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| MADD's Board of Directors and Senior Leadership touring the DADSS research facility. |
Submitted by fed up at 11:20 PM on June 14, 2012
Submitted by Brenda at 03:46 PM on June 13, 2012