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Federal agencies responsible for conducting independent accident investigations are recommending technology for new vehicles to limit speeding and prevent driving impairments to reduce the increase in related fatal crashes.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendation for alcohol hazard detection systems is on the way to becoming a requirement after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act gave the Department of Transportation three years to mandate such features on new vehicles. is. However, the commission’s re-recommendation to incentivize intelligent speed-adaptation systems has yet to gain broad federal support, and the familiarity with speed limits being enforced by law enforcement rather than the vehicles themselves You may face resistance from drivers in the United States.

The NTSB recommendations, which cannot be implemented without being adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, specifically require all new vehicles to be equipped with “passive vehicle-integrated alcohol hazard detection systems, advanced driver monitoring systems, or a combination of these two features. Prevents or restricts vehicle operation if it detects driver impairment due to alcohol. ”

The NTSB reiterated recommendations made in 2017 and also suggested that NHTSA “encourage automakers and consumers to adopt Intelligent Speed ​​Adaptation (ISA) systems to prevent speed-related collisions.”

Intelligent speed adaptation systems range from warning systems that give a visual or audible warning when the driver is speeding to systems that electronically limit the speed of the vehicle. The NTSB did not specify which type of system should be adopted.

An investigation into a California crash that killed nine people, including seven children, on New Year’s Day 2021 led to recommendations Tuesday, according to the NTSB. He had a high level of alcohol intoxication and discovered he was driving at an excessive speed.”

NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy said on Tuesday that the technology “could prevent the tens of thousands of deaths from driving-related and speeding-related crashes seen in the United States each year.”

According to NHTSA, 32 people die every day in alcohol-related crashes, and more than 11,000 die each year. Deaths in 2021 are reported to have increased by 5%.

According to mothers, an advocacy group against drunk driving, there are a number of technologies aimed at preventing impaired driving that are being evaluated by the Department of Transportation. The ministry was given three years to create a requirement for new vehicles to be equipped with “advanced anti-drunk-driving technology” as part of an infrastructure law passed with bipartisan support last year.

In a statement Monday, NHTSA said it had “begun work to meet the requirements of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act for Rulemaking on Advanced Disabled Driving Skills in Vehicles.”

Such technology includes cameras and sensors outside the vehicle that monitor driving performance, cameras and sensors inside the vehicle that monitor the driver’s head and eyes, and alcohol to determine if the driver is intoxicated and prevent the vehicle from moving. sensors, etc.

This future regulation raises privacy concerns and the question of whether the system will incorrectly classify certain people (such as people with disabilities) as intoxicated.

Intelligent speed adaptation systems have gained some traction in the European market and will be mandatory in all new cars sold from July 2024. The new car has “Cascading Acoustic Warning”, “Cascading Vibration Warning”, “According to the European Commission, Haptic Feedback via the Accelerator Pedal” or “Speed ​​Control Function”. According to the commission, the driver can disable her ISA system.

New York City is also piloting city vehicles with the ISA system. In August, the city announced that 50 vehicles driven by city employees would be equipped with a system that sets the vehicle’s maximum speed and “adapts based on local speed limits.” There are active modalities that automatically reduce speed and passive modalities that warn the driver when they are increasing speed.

Vehicles will be modified and installed in various urban sector vehicles and also tested in 14 new all-electric Ford Mach Es.

This story has been updated with comments from NHTSA.