DailyTech - NTSB Recommends Ignition Interlock for First-Time DWI Offenders

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Auto NTSB Recommends Ignition Interlock for First-Time DWI Offenders
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - December 12, 2012 8:23 AM

23 comment(s) - last by Qapa.. on Dec 16 at 7:50 AM

Ignition Interlock

Study finds drunk drivers of the number one cause for fatal wrong-way driving accidents

A recent study by the National Transportation Safety Board on wrong-way driving crashes cited alcohol-impaired driving as the leading cause of collisions. As a result of the study, the NTSB is now recommending that all first-time offender DWI drivers be required to have an ignition interlock installed on their vehicle. Currently, only 17 states require interlocks to be installed for first-time offenders.

These interlocks require the offender to blow into a chamber that is able to detect if they've been drinking.

"The first step to address the number one killer on our roadways is to do what is proven to be effective - use interlocks for all DWI offenders," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman.

The board has also strongly endorsed the continued development of passive alcohol detection technology to help prevent drunken driving. One such device is the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety -- it would prevent drunk drivers from operating vehicles by detecting alcohol on the driver's breath using breath analyzing and touch-based sensors.

In addition to methods designed to weed out drunken drivers, the report also recommends better lighting, enhanced signage and roadway markings, and GPS devices to provide warnings to drivers if they are traveling the wrong way on a road.

The NTSB also says that older drivers are more commonly involved in wrong-way collisions and is asking states to implement comprehensive older driver safety programs.

We reported earlier this year that France was requiring all of its citizens to possess a handheld breathalyzer in their vehicles.

Source: NTSB

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Too much for just a little, to little for too much.

By drycrust3 on 12/12/2012 5:33:08 PM , Rating: 3

quote:
A recent study by the National Transportation Safety Board on wrong-way driving crashes cited alcohol-impaired driving as the leading cause of collisions. As a result of the study, the NTSB is now recommending that all first-time offender DWI drivers be required to have an ignition interlock installed on their vehicle.

I think that people who drive the wrong way down a street have been drinking heavily. These people would also be going through red lights, not stopping at stop signs, hitting poles on the side of the road, have trouble going around corners, swiping parked cars, have difficulty seeing the lights go green, can't dip their headlights to oncoming traffic, etc.
I think to specifically target first time offenders is wrong, it should be the repetitive offenders, the 10th time before the courts people, the people that are actually criminals because next morning there is damage to the car (or truck, as in the case of the vehicle that wrote off the car I was driving) they drove and they are vague about how it got there (while down the road is someone with an unexpected bill to pay, and no way to prove who did the damage), and they are the ones that need this stuff, not some young man or young lady who drank a bit over the limit and then got caught driving mum's car home.

RE: Too much for just a little, to little for too much.

By ebakke on 12/12/2012 5:48:24 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
I think to specifically target first time offenders is wrong, it should be the repetitive offenders, the 10th time before the courts people, the people that are actually criminals

First time offenders are criminals too. They didn't have offensive body odor; they engaged in a criminal offense.

Parent

RE: Too much for just a little, to little for too much.

By drycrust3 on 12/12/2012 7:22:07 PM , Rating: 2

But why pick out the first time offenders as being worse than the repetitive offenders?

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RE: Too much for just a little, to little for too much.

By ebakke on 12/12/2012 7:41:37 PM , Rating: 2

Let's not. Let's also not pick out alcohol, or pot, or texting, or ... as being worse than anything else. Let's punish them all equally. If you can't handle driving safely, you don't get the privilege of traveling on our roads. Simple as that.

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