Help me understand this. Toyota today announced some sort of anti-drunk driving “gadget” (more like a complete system, including a digital camera and a breathalyzer) that prevents a car from being turned on if it detects a certain amount of alcohol in your system. You know, to help reduce the number of drunk driving-related accidents, which in the U.S. caused nearly 12,000 deaths last year. That’s one death every 45 minutes.
And yet, all too predictably, there’s a certain segment of the population who claim the system will fail because it infringes upon people’s freedoms.
Here’s a sampling from Breitbart:
Sure way to lose American sales.
We like our freedom, not dictates.…
I don’t drink & drive, but I’ll be damned if Toyota, or any other automaker is going to dictate to me.
There will be a good business on technicians who override these systems.…
Time to properly install one of these devices…. about 4 hours
Time to bypass the device…. about 10 seconds
Another wasted technology bought and paid for by your American tax dollars going overseas
…
NAZIS
…
Yeah, lets just put the cop inside the car with you! Blow an illegal limit, the doors lock and the alarm will go off if you open them. Take this gadget and jam it up your Japanese arsh!
I literally laughed out loud at the “NAZIS” barb. Not even Godwin would have predicate that. (On a side note, can anyone point me in the direction of a book or paper that describes Nazi Germany’s policies with respect to drunk driving?)
Granted, this reaction is to be expected when Drudge is involved. (He linked to the Breitbart version of the article.) That site attracts a certain reader, let’s say. The kind that likens still-in-draft bills with the death of the American way of life—whatever that is—itself.
I mean, what does this gadget do, exactly? It detects if you’re drunk. If you’re drunk, however that’s defined in your local jurisdiction, you should not be driving a car, full stop. End of discussion.
And yet, people will bleat on about their “freedoms” being violated. Driving drunk is not some noble exercise of your freedom, but rather is an example of needless (and senseless, but there doesn’t seem to be too much sense there to begin with) recklessness. Do not confuse an ability to vote in elections and participate in a democratic republic with your ability to careen down a highway, killing a perfectly innocent person, or persons, in the process.
/soapbox
“That’s one death every 45 minutes.” – - -
Compared to 1 every 20 to 25 minutes for non alcohol related accidents in the US
Steve, its very hard to prevent stupid people from doing stupid things. This is one way to stop one of the dumbest things people do. Sure rednecks will stop buying the car, but I can think of a shit load of parents that would love to get their kid the car (or one with this technology).
That being said, hopefully its quick.
Jim
Only keeping a few people from dying horrible deaths makes it not worth it? It doesn’t count if it doesn’t help to fix every single problem ever?
Well written article, very valid and I couldn’t agree more.
Aren’t devices like these already available? I thought some courts ordered convicted drunk drivers to have these installed in their vehicles already.
Anyway, yeah, right…lose your freedom to drink and drive and plow into my family’s mini-van. *uck you!
The referenced article states that these are being tested on company fleet vehicles. Considering there are a lot of companies in the US that have to coddle their employees with substance abuse problems before they can terminate them, I see a valid private sector application for these.
America the land of entitlements. Where you can kill someone and get probation/revocation of your driving license.
There are much more discreet and sophisticated technologies available that detect what is important: IMPAIRMENT. Not everyone is impaired at the same BAC level. For parents or employers looking for Peace of Mind, look to Cleared2Drive for the newest technology.
Why the hell do you even read Drudge?
Hes a carnival barker
This isn’t something to dismiss so quickly. MADD is lobbying to make ignition interlock devices mandatory for all drunk drivers. A top MADD official was appointed by Obama to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. It is feasible to imaging a campaign to make such devices mandatory for all cars. That would legislating to the least common denominator, something this country is getting better and better at.
the freedom-impinging part of this is that it places an unneeded burden on those of us who don’t drink and drive and just want to get to work/home/mistress/whorehouse for a quickie … much like the tsa’s insistence on people removing their shoes… it doesn’t actually prevent anything and is a giant pain in the ass for the rest of us
How long do you think this device will last in our litigious society when there is a medical or other life threatening emergency that you can’t simply and quickly start a car?
I do believe it is intrusive to law-abiding citizens, and I’m against it. While drinking and driving is a serious problem, there are a lot of other areas of life I’m much more concerned with.
Let’s say they only install this on cars for people with excessive DUIs (people with known drinking and driving issues), don’t you think they will find a work-around? People hack crap all the time, do you really think this will be any different?
I don’t think imposing on smart people is the best way of preventing stupid people from being stupid.
I have an easy solution for the people of MADD to stop drunk driving. Offer sober drivers $25/$50 for every confirmed drunk driver they successfully report, and witness for the police. They have a program like that in Palm Beach, but only for one per month (how retarded – don’t you want them all off the streets?)
While I agree people should NOT drink & drive, I totally disagree with this device.
I don’t see this device effectively preventing the problem. People will find ways around it or to disable it. It’ll become a nuisance to the overwhelming majority of people who don’t drink & drive. I’m sure the cost to build & install this device will be pasted onto the consumer too.
No, I feel the cons outweigh the pros, more restrictions isn’t the solution.