The HALT Drunk Driving Law

Anti-Drunk Driving

Technology

Saves Lives

The HALT Drunk Driving Law – Anti-Drunk Driving Technology for All

MADD’s bold and achievable goal is that every new car will be equipped with anti-drunk driving technology by 2030, setting us on a path to end drunk driving for good.  Once in place, this technology will save more than 10,000 lives per year and prevent hundreds of thousands of injuries. MADD victims and survivors worked with a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, representatives of the auto industry, and the U.S. Department of Transportation for 16 years to advance the development and deployment of anti-drunk driving technology.

Lifesaving Anti-Drunk Driving Technologies

The HALT Drunk Driving Act, signed into law on November 15, 2021, directed the federal government to establish a regulation for all new cars to come equipped with anti-drunk driving technology.

BREATH-BASED

  • Measures BAC with a breath sensor on the steering column
  • BAC measured before car will move

TOUCH-BASED

  • Measures BAC with a touch-based sensor for example on the start button
  • BAC measured before car will move

IN CAR SENSORS

  • Cameras on dash or rear-view mirror that measure eye movement for intoxication
  • Checks driver impairment while car is in motion

Anti-Drunk Driving Technology Saves Lives

10,000 / year

What is the HALT Drunk Driving Law?

The Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate (HALT) Drunk Driving Act was passed in to law on November 15, 2021. It is named in honor or Rana Abbas Taylor’s family – her sister Rima, brother-in-law Issam and their children Ali, Isabella and Giselle – who were killed by a wrong-way drunk driver on January 6, 2019.

The law requires a new federal regulation for anti-drunk driving technology that is not obvious to sober drivers but prevents someone who is drunk from driving. Automakers will be required to design their vehicles with the technology included – the same way cars today come equipped with seatbelts, airbags, and backup cameras.

You can play a vital role in getting this technology to the finish line by joining MADD’s Advocacy Network.

Abbas Family

The HALT Drunk Driving Law Support & Media

LETTERS OF SUPPORT

American consumers strongly support the Congressional technology mandate. According to two nationwide polls conducted by Ipsos for MADD, 9 out of 10 Americans said technology that is integrated into a car’s electronics to prevent impaired driving is a good or very good idea. Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found nearly two-thirds of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with the mandate for vehicle impairment prevention technology on all new vehicles.

Dozens of traffic safety and public health organizations, representatives from the insurance industry, alcohol industry and thousands of victims and survivors of impaired driving crashes have also advocated for this law.

HERE ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS SUPPORT:


Auto Insurance Industry Support for Technology to Prevent Drunk Driving

Distilled Spirits Council and Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility Letter

HALT Law Support Distilled Spirits Council and Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility

RIDE Act Support Distilled Spirits Council and Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility

RIDE HALT Law support letter Anheuser-Busch

RIDE HALT Law support letter Beer Institute

Statement of Advocates Cathy Chase for Senate Commerce Driving Innovation Hearing

The HALT Act became law with the tenacious advocacy victims and survivors on impaired driving, champions in Congress and an extensive and impressive list of partners who are all willing to activate to ensure lifesaving technology become standard equipment on all new cars.

Here are examples of advocates rallying around this movement:

MADD’s Efforts are Supported by the HALT Drunk Driving Coalition