It could only be a matter of time before every Australian car is fitted with drink-driving prevention technology, if the nation follows America’s lead.
Every new car sold in the US will need to have advanced drink and impaired driving prevention technoxjmtzywlogy by 2027 after a massive infrastructure Bill was passed by Congress last year.
It has naturally sparked debate on when a similar system will be introduced in Australia, with a 2020 Austroads research report saying vehicle-based systems that prevent alcohol-impaired driving should be fast-tracked.
While an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit has been in place for more than 30 years, data from The Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland in 2016 showed drink-driving was the No.1 contributing factor in about 30 per cent of fatal crashes in Australia.
Associate Professor Michael Fitzharris from the Monash University Accident Research Centre told 3AW on Thursday that the technology going into American cars did more than just test for alcohol and drugs.
“This technology will not just look at drink-driving but attention, drowsiness, distraction and so on,” Mr Fitzharris said.
“All forms of impaired driving is the goal.”
The technology is also better and less clunky than the interlock devices given to convicted drink-drivers, with Mr Fitzharris saying it is “a step above and it does make it a heck of a lot easier”.
It is a move Australians seemingly want after a survey last year from insurance company Budget Direct found more than 50 per cent of respondents were in favour of having a drink-driving prevention device fitted to their car.
“We (Australia) tend to lag a bit behind. I’ve always had the view that we need to be a bit better in all of our vehicle safety tech because that will ultimately save lives,” Mr Fitzharris said.
