DUI - - DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

In a recent report, it was established that almost 13,000 Americans lose their lives in car crashes. Now a non-profit group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), that has been spreading awareness about the dangers of drunk driving is taking the fight against this cause to new heights, with the help of two of the most influential organization in the United States, the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

U.S Congress is all set to give its approval to an all new law making it mandatory for all 50 states to implement interlock systems in the cars of convicted drunk drivers. This system would automatically shut down the car whenever a preset measured level of alcohol is detected in the driver’s system.Currently, there are over 150,000 interlock systems operating across the United States, that have been installed for those drivers who have been convicted on multiple counts of driving under the influence or DUI. However, if this law gets the Congresses’ approval, then there would be an explosion of interlock systems all across the country. According to a MADD estimate, DUI is the number one crime in America with over 1.5 million drivers being arrested each year.

As of now, only 11 states in the U.S employ the interlocks for the drivers with a history of DUI arrests and DUI-restricted licenses. Even with the proposed law, none of the 50 states would be forced to implement this law. However, non-compliance could seriously put a dent in their revenues, they would not be eligible for the highway funds. According to Laura Dean Mooney (MADD),

“The national 21 minimum drinking age and the .08% law [for allowable alcohol in the bloodstream] both resulted from federal highway sanctions. History tells us that this approach works.”