Indiana should force people convicted of DWIs to have an ignition that will only start if you haven’t been drinking, says a group called Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Advocates gives Indiana a “C” on having laws meant to make you safer when you’re driving.
“On the path to driverless cars, safety technologies are available that are preventing crashes and i njuries right now,” said Cathy Chase, with Advocates, at a news conference this week, announcing their annual report.
Both Chase and Advocates board co-chair Jeanett Fennell talked about driverless cars, as revealed at the Auto Show in Detroit, that may make driving a lot safer. Only, that won’t be the norm for years yet.
“We can’t wait and shouldn’t wait for the entire vehicle population to switch over to driverless cars in the next 20 to 30 years, to address our nation’s highway safety problems,” said Fennell. “We have technologies available today such as automatic emergency braking a rear seatbelt reminders, that should be in every car and contribute to saving lives.”
Chase complained that many new safety features are available only in luxury packages or very expensive cars, and are thus available only to rich people.
“These life-saving laws should be available and affordable to every family.”
The Advocates report pointed out that Indiana lacks several traffic laws they consider essential to safety, including making the ignition device, with a breathalyzer, a requirement for every Hoosier convicted of drunk driving. The reports also says Indiana should have a law requiring a helmet for all motorcycle riders, having children in a rear-facing car seat through age two, making 16 the minimum age for a learner’s permit and making 18 the minimum age for an unrestricted license.
Chase said wrecks and un safe driving cost you every year.
“Each person in America pays an annual ‘crash tax’ of $784,” she said.