Free Republic

Congress mandated in 2021 that all new cars include "advanced impaired driving prevention technology" by 2027. The tech includes infrared cameras that track your eyes, pupil dilation, and driving behavior. NHTSA missed its deadline to finalize rules because no current system meets the required 99.9% accuracy—even that level would strand tens of millions of sober drivers per year. NHTSA admitted in March 2026 that no system meets the legal requirement for reliable operation. The agency stated current detection technology shows "unacceptable error rates," particularly around legal alcohol limits. Here's the math that stopped NHTSA cold: Americans drive about 3 trillion...

Are you ready for your car to decide if you’re fit to drive? If not, you’d better buckle up. A federal mandate declares new vehicles must have in-car surveillance for 2027 models onward that can decide if a person is fit to drive and can make the car inoperable via a so-called “kill switch.” And don’t count on brushing your teeth or gargling with Listerine to work around the driver monitor if you’ve had one too many. Most new cars won’t make the determination via breathalyzer, but infrared cameras continually monitoring potential impairment cues. They include pupil size, head movements,...

Congress is requiring in its $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that automakers install monitoring systems in their cars to stop drivers from operating their vehicles while intoxicated. Monitoring systems to stop drunk drivers would roll out in all new vehicles as early as 2026, according to the new legislation. Some convicted drunk drivers already have to use breathalyzer devices attached to their vehicles' ignition interlock. By blowing into a tube, the system will disable the vehicle if the individual's blood alcohol level is above the legal threshold. The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) program is a public-private partnership partially...