Written by our personal injury lawyer in Charlottesville
There is current technology that could be adapted to prevent a driver from being able to start their car or truck. The following information and discussion about uses is provided by the law firm of Wilson & Hajek in Charlottesville, VA.
Drunk driving, injuries, and death go hand-in-hand. Once the car or truck is started and put in motion by a drunk driver nothing good is going to happen. Sensory devices, similar to those used in airport security, can be used to detect whether a person has been drinking. These devices would not require a driver to blow into a device, but some contact point would contain the sensor. The sensor could be on a starter button, key or fob. This device would immediately register blood alcohol content and either allow or deny the starting of the vehicle. Technology is part of the answer to prevent alcohol related deaths and injuries on our highways.
It would seem the government would be pro-active on this issue and apply the technology to vehicles such as buses and commercial trucks. These vehicles are operated under governmental regulations. The testing of the operator by a simple contact alcohol detector would seem a logical step. The vehicles most capable of causing serious injury to the public would have this additional safeguard for the public. After this first step the contact alcohol detector could be integrated among the general public at a reasonable pace.
The current timetable for integrating the testing system in autos for sale to the general public is five years. It would seem the efforts to place these devices should currently be directed at the larger vehicles on the road. That would help circumvent the obvious problems of marketing to the general public because of cost and privacy concerns. A better place to start is to make certain larger vehicles are operated in a safe manner.
This technology will be a while. In the meantime, injuries and deaths are caused on a regular basis in Charlottesville, Louisa County, Fluvanna County, Albemarle County, and throughout the U.S. If you, or a family member, are the victim of a drunken driver, car or truck, please contact our personal injury lawyer in Charlottesville.
Contact the experienced injury lawyer at the law firm of Wilson & Hajek.
Personal injury lawyer in Charlottesville serving Louisa County, Fluvanna County, Albemarle County, and all of central Virginia.
