When it comes to preventing DUI (driving under the influence), there’s no shortage of laws and law enforcement tactics that can be employed to keep the roads safe from drunk drivers. The problem with this rules-based approach, however, is that it is not only outdated, but the rules of the road are also hardly enough to keep people from drinking and driving. Too many people are convinced they drive better when they’ve downed a cocktail or two.
One thing is for certain: if you do get stopped for a DUI, it can change your life forever in ways you never imagined. That’s why it’s essential to hire the best DUI lawyer you can find. Says The Law Offices of Aaron M. Black, PLLC, AZ, DUI lawyers, why should you hire a DUI attorney? Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, a lawyer can represent you in a court of law without your physical presence.
When possible, your lawyer will act solely on your behalf in court. This allows you the opportunity to keep on working and making a living. After all, DUI is no cheap affair. Between legal fines, spiking insurance premiums, and attorney fees, it can run you in the thousands of dollars.
That said, is there a better way to prevent DUIs from happening in the first place? According to a recent report by ButterflyLabs, drunk driving remains one of the most stubborn and pressing concerns not only in the U.S. but the globe. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), more than 30 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the U.S. alone were the direct cause of DUI.
Many lives are lost, while others are altered forever due to vehicular accidents caused by drunk or impaired drivers. But while the statistics paint a grim scenario even in 2024, there is hope on the horizon with new high technology that just might prevent DUIs in the future. At the very least, these new inventions should cut down significantly on deaths caused by DUI. Here are just a few of them.
The Breathalyzer
Developed as far back as the mid-20th century, breathalyzers were simple tools utilized primarily by law enforcement agencies. Over the decades, they have undergone some significant advancements and enhancements in both functionality and design. The evolution was fueled by the dire need for more accurate results when it came to DUI law enforcement.
The main engineering principle behind the breathalyzer is nothing more than the detection of alcohol on your breath. This can be correlated to a BAC (blood alcohol concentration). When the device is used on a suspected drunk driver, a chemical reaction produces a color change that indicates alcohol. With today’s advanced high-tech devices, an electrical signal is given off. The intensity of the alcohol level allows the device to provide an accurate BAC reading.
The breathalyzers of 2024 are said to have come a long way from your grandparents’ devices. They are now compact and portable enough to allow for personal use. They have become so accurate and integrated with modern digital tech that you can access real-time data on your smartphone. Simply said, if you breathalyze yourself and you find your BAC is higher than the legal limit, do not drive. The life you save might be your own.
The Car Interlock Device
Says ButterflyLabs, Ignition Interlock Devices (IID) are breathalyzer-based tools that are engineered to be installed directly into your vehicle. The purpose behind the device is to prevent people from driving while intoxicated. Because of the IID, you can’t start your car if it detects alcohol on your breath. This proactive approach to preventing DUI is being challenged in many courts because of its apparent intrusion on your basic rights as a free person in a free land.
However, recent studies have shown that IIDs are very effective when it comes to stopping repeat DUI offenses. The CDC also stated that when installed, IIDs effectively reduce the recurrence of DUI incidents by close to 70 percent among first-time offenders. IIDs work when it comes to DUI prevention.
The Driver Monitoring System
Said to be a powerful high-tech tool for identifying signs of driver impairment, Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) utilize new-wave engineering like advanced sensors and facial recognition. The systems are then able to detect subtle cues in a drunk driver, such as erratic steering, drooping eyelids, and other signs of impairment. When enough signs are detected, your DMS will alert you to the issue or trigger your vehicle’s safety devices.
While new high-tech engineering is showing great promise in the prevention of DUI in 2024 and beyond, the one simple, age-old rule still holds: Don’t drink and drive. Full stop.
