Statement from Robert Strassburger, President and CEO, Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety

The following statement is attributable to Robert Strassburger, President & CEO of ACTS regarding today’s report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on the potential impact of alcohol-detection systems.

“Today’s study is both a strong endorsement of the potential life-saving impact of the DADSS technologies and an important reminder of the work that still remains in the fight to reduce alcohol-impaired driving fatalities. We draw added encouragement from IIHS’ recognition of the use of DADSS technologies as an intervention that could save thousands of lives. We are committed to completing our work to develop robust technology that can be successfully deployed as widely as possible.

“Once complete, the DADSS technology is likely to produce safety benefits on par with electronic stability control and the safety belt. Because this program must ensure that the resulting DADSS system is accepted by consumers so that it may be widely deployed, the DADSS technology must meet strict performance standards for speed, accuracy, precision and reliability, the research being done now is critical to ensure that the technology is a success.

“Now more than ever, Americans understand that scientific innovation can help us invent a safer future for everyone. When we work together, we can save lives and improve public health. DADSS technologies remain the most promising—and likely the most expedient—pathway for preventing impaired driving fatalities in the U.S. on a large scale. We must stay the course.”

The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) Program is a public-private partnership between the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS), which represents the world’s leading automakers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Public-private partnerships like DADSS have led to innovations that enhance our everyday lives, such as the internet, GPS and the microchip. The Program is researching a first-of-its-kind technology called the alcohol detection system that will detect when a driver is impaired with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above 0.08%, and prevent a vehicle from moving. The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles and the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Administration have joined this program to support on-road testing and increase public awareness and acceptance of the technology.

For more information about the DADSS Program, visit http://www.dadss.org.