Kudos to the U.S. Senate for passing Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP-21, which includes the ROADS SAFE Act. The provision would authorize $12 million a year, over two years, for research of in-vehicle advanced technologies that could seamlessly and passively detect a drunk driver. The safety provisions included in MAP-21 could set in motion the elimination of drunk driving, and save tens of thousands of lives each year.
MAP-21 also includes much-needed updates to our nation’s highway safety programs. Chief among these is a new incentive grant program to encourage states to adopt all-offender ignition interlock programs. In Oregon and Arizona, these laws have reduced drunk driving fatalities by more than 50 percent.
MAP-21 also continues funding for the annual high-visibility crackdown efforts known as Click it or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Additionally, the legislation establishes mechanisms to assure that state traffic safety programs supported with Federal funding are more effective in addressing the most critical safety needs.
We would like to thank Chairmen Rockefeller and Boxer, and Senators Udall, Corker, Hutchison, Lautenberg, Pryor, Vitter, Klobuchar, Schumer and Murray for their leadership to eliminate drunk driving. MAP-21 represents an historic opportunity to advance highway safety in America and truly eliminate drunk driving.
For more information, view the full press release or read more about the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) program.
Submitted by Drivewell at 03:52 AM on April 1, 2012