An automaker trade and lobbying group said it has its sights on cutting impaired-driving traffic deaths.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents automakers that produce and sell in the U.S., said it created a consortium to address the problem.

It said it will pay for new research and consumer education intended to help federal traffic safety regulators “formulate better drunk driving prevention rules.”

The group pointed out that Congress tasked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop a regulation requiring automakers to install impaired-driving prevention technology in new vehicles. But it said public comments on the proposed rule show there’s ample confusion about how the technologies would work and whether consumers would use them.

It said its consortium will dig into how to address the concerns, including whether such technologies should disable vehicles if they flag driver impairment, and the best ways to educate consumers about the systems.

“Automakers are making major investments in research, development and testing of drunk and impaired driving technology using sensors, cameras and warning systems,” said alliance President and CEO John Bozzella in a press release. 

“But anytime the government requires vehicle technology, important questions should be asked. Like how does this technology work – in the real world?  Answering those questions is essential – otherwise the technology may be rejected by drivers. That’s a result nobody wants. Our research consortium will help NHTSA fill those knowledge gaps."

The group pointed out 2022 NHTSA statistics that show nearly a third of U.S. traffic fatalities involved impaired drivers.

“We all have an obligation to reverse this troubling trend,” Bozzella said.

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