Automakers say public acceptance crucial for anti-drunken driving tech's success

WASHINGTON — As U.S. auto safety regulators move to mandate technology that could prevent intoxicated or impaired drivers from operating their vehicles, automakers are warning the effort's success will hinge on consumer acceptance.

In public comments submitted Tuesday to NHTSA, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation argued the readiness of technology that can detect drunken or impaired driving "becomes a moot point if it is not accompanied with consumer awareness and acceptance."

A provision in the 2021 infrastructure law orders NHTSA to issue a final rule by Nov. 15 that would require new vehicles to be equipped with passive drunken- and impaired-driving prevention technology.

Once the rule is issued, automakers would have two to three years to implement the technology as standard equipment in all new light-duty cars and trucks.

NHTSA is gathering information from stakeholders that will help it develop performance standards for the technology, which has not yet been determined but could involve a mix of sensors and cameras that can detect driver intoxication.

The agency said it would primarily focus on technology that can detect alcohol impairment, though drowsy and distracted driving could also be covered. The rule would not cover driving while impaired by drugs, NHTSA said, citing technology immaturity and a lack of testing protocols.

The alliance, which represents major automakers such as Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Toyota Motor Corp., said a consumer education campaign will be critical alongside the forthcoming rulemaking to influence public sentiment and ensure drivers understand the technology.

"If there are misunderstandings about why and how the technology works, the standard may face headwinds in achieving its desired benefits," the alliance said.

The auto industry has been working with NHTSA for more than a decade to develop the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, which will feature a breath- and touch-based system to measure a driver's blood alcohol level.

The breath technology is undergoing trial deployments with states and private fleet companies. A fully passive breath sensor could be made available to product integrators for use in consumer vehicles by the end of 2025. However, the time frame for a touch sensor that can measure blood alcohol levels is still forthcoming.

"At present, touch-based systems are not passive or developed to a sufficient level to be considered automotive grade," the alliance said in its comments. "Testing has identified some false positives when evaluating breath-based sensors, and additional field testing is needed to validate these systems."

False positives, especially in a situation in which a sober driver is unable to start a vehicle, could also have a significant impact on consumer acceptance of the technology.

"Even if 1 in 10,000 trips were expected to experience a false positive," the alliance said, "this could result in thousands of unimpaired drivers encountering problems that prevent them from driving each day."

The alliance is calling for a technology-neutral rule that allows automakers to integrate new or updated sensor technologies, enhance detection algorithms or integrate additional redundancies as deemed necessary. The group also wants the rule to include "clearly defined test procedures that enable the objective, repeatable, reproducible measurement of impairment, for each of the impairment types covered by the regulation."

"NHTSA should ensure that it fully understands and considers consumer expectations for what constitutes a reasonable countermeasure upon impairment detection," the alliance said. "Otherwise, the technology runs the risk of being rejected by consumers, which would defeat the purpose of the standard and reduce or eliminate its benefits."