Federal Law to Stop Drunk Driving Stalls Amid Concerns Over Technology

Impairment-detection devices in new cars mandated by 2021 law face regulatory delays and opposition

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A federal law passed in 2021 that would require automakers to install impairment-detection technology in all new cars to prevent drunk or impaired driving remains stalled due to regulatory delays and concerns about the technology's readiness. The Halt Drunk Driving Act, also known as the Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving Act, has faced pushback from some lawmakers and the auto industry, who argue more research is needed before mandating the technology.

Why it matters

Drunk driving continues to be a major public safety issue, with over 10,000 alcohol-related deaths on U.S. roads each year. The proposed law aims to address this problem by requiring new cars to be equipped with technology that can detect impairment and prevent the vehicle from operating. However, the implementation of this law has been delayed, leaving advocates frustrated by the lack of progress in saving lives.

The details

The Halt Drunk Driving Act was attached to the $1 trillion infrastructure law signed by President Biden in 2021. It anticipated that automakers would be required to roll out technology to 'passively' detect when drivers are drunk or impaired and prevent their cars from operating. This could include air monitors, fingertip readers, or scanners that detect signs of impairment. However, implementation has been delayed due to regulatory hurdles, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration still assessing the developing technologies. Some opponents argue the law could lead to a 'kill switch' that would allow the government to control vehicles, a claim the auto industry and advocates have refuted.

  • The Halt Drunk Driving Act was attached to the $1 trillion infrastructure law signed by President Biden in 2021.
  • Regulators were expected to finalize rules for the new technology as early as this year, but implementation has been delayed.
  • Automakers would then have an additional 2-3 years to install the impairment-detection technology in new vehicles.

The players

Rana Abbas Taylor

An outspoken advocate for stopping drunk driving after losing her sister, brother-in-law, nephew and two nieces in a crash caused by a driver with a blood-alcohol level almost four times the legal limit.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

A non-profit organization that called the Halt Drunk Driving Act the most important piece of legislation in its 45-year history.

Chris Swonger

President and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, who has defended the law against claims that it would require a 'kill switch' or government control of vehicles.

Rep. Thomas Massie

A Kentucky Republican who authored an effort to remove the Halt Act's funding, arguing that the technology could serve as 'your judge, your jury, and your executioner.'

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation

A trade association for U.S. automakers that argued more research was needed before mandating impairment-detection technology, citing concerns about false positives.

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What’s next

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is still assessing the developing technologies for potential deployment and is expected to report back to Congress soon. Even supporters predict the agency will push the decision at least into 2027, and auto companies would then have another 2-3 years to install the impairment-detection technology.

The takeaway

This stalled federal law highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing public safety concerns around drunk driving with the need to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of the technology required to address it. While advocates argue the technology exists, automakers and some lawmakers remain cautious about mandating it without further research, leaving thousands of lives at risk each year.