As part of an official report released by the National Transportation Safety Board in the aftermath of a 2021 crash, the NTSB is recommending that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mandate blood alcohol monitoring systems. Such systems can stop intoxicated drivers from operating a vehicle, and could drastically reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes in the United States, says the NTSB.
In the crash highlighted by the report, a drunk driver in a Dodge Journey SUV crossed the center line on the way home from a New Year’s Day party and collided head-on with a Ford F-150 pickup truck, killing both drivers and seven occupants between the ages of 6 and 15. The SUV driver’s blood alcohol level was 0.21%, nearly three times California’s legal limit. He also had marijuana in his system (toxicology reports suggest both drivers may have used marijuana during the day), but the agency said the alcohol was more than enough to severely impair his driving. The SUV was traveling 88 to 98 miles per hour, the report said.
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