Deployment of Required Impairment Prevention Vehicle Equipment to Honor the Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving Act of 2025; DRIVE to HALT Drunk Driving Act
Summary
H.R. 6850, the "Deployment of Required Impairment Prevention Vehicle Equipment to Honor the Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving Act of 2025" or the "DRIVE to HALT Drunk Driving Act", aims to reduce drunk and impaired driving by mandating that manufacturers produce a minimum number of vehicles equipped with drunk and impaired driving prevention technology. It amends Title 49 of the United States Code to require manufacturers to meet specific performance standards for these technologies. The bill also includes provisions for updating these standards based on revisions to the European New Car Assessment Programme, subject to review by the Secretary.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely increase the cost of new vehicles due to the mandatory inclusion of new technology. It will also likely reduce the number of drunk driving incidents if the technology is effective. The sunset clause means that the requirements of this section shall expire upon the effective date of the rule required under section 24220 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Potential Benefits
- Potential reduction in drunk driving incidents and related fatalities.
- Advancement and implementation of impaired driving prevention technology.
- Alignment with international safety standards through the European New Car Assessment Programme.
- Incentivizes manufacturers to innovate in vehicle safety technology.
- May lead to safer roads and reduced healthcare costs associated with accidents.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased vehicle manufacturing costs, potentially passed on to consumers.
- Possible technological challenges and implementation hurdles for manufacturers.
- Potential for the Secretary to override revised standards, creating uncertainty.
- Limited scope, as it only applies to manufacturers producing over 250,000 vehicles.
- Sunset provision could lead to the discontinuation of these requirements.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill falls under the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) as it regulates the manufacture and sale of motor vehicles in interstate commerce. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any individual liberties or rights explicitly protected by the Constitution or its amendments. The mandate for specific safety standards aligns with the government's responsibility to promote the general welfare.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).