| Drunk driving is a major problem on the roads | | | | be no claim of false advertising with this device. It is |
| throughout the year. The authorities have focused on | | | | a breathalyzer hooked up to your ignition. You have |
| using penalties to deter people from drinking and | | | | to blow into it before the car will start. It is about |
| driving. As is usually the case, penalties only go so far. | | | | the size of a cell phone. If your blood alcohol content |
| The good news is technology might be stepping up | | | | reads too high, the ignition simply will not turn over |
| to the plate. | | | | and you can't get behind the wheel. Well, at least the |
| The number of people killed because of drunk drivers | | | | wheel of a moving car. |
| was just over 13,000 in 1996. Ten years later, the | | | | There is an obvious loophole with a device like this. |
| number was also just over 13,000. During this period, | | | | What if someone else takes the breath test besides |
| the states have passed varying laws designed to | | | | the driver? It is a possibility. To try to prevent this, |
| increase the punishment for drunk driving. The | | | | the system also requires that tests be taken every |
| punishments often include high fines, loss of driving | | | | so often at preset intervals. This greatly minimizes |
| license and a term in jail. As the numbers show, | | | | the problem. If a second or third breath test is found |
| however, the nastier penalties simply haven't worked | | | | to have excessive alcohol intake, the car does not |
| to reduce the number of fatalities. | | | | turn off for safety reasons. Instead, the lights begin |
| We are a technology driven society these days. | | | | to flash and the horn starts honking obnoxiously. |
| From iPhones to the latest gadgets, we look to | | | | Only a few states such as California currently |
| technology to make our lives easier. Well, what if this | | | | mandate the use of ignition breathalyzers. This only |
| idea was applied to drunk driving? It is. The concept | | | | occurs when a court finds a defendant is a repeat |
| is known as the ignition breathalyzer. It has been | | | | offender. Before being allowed to drive again, the |
| around for a while, but is starting to get more | | | | defendant is required to install one of the devices at |
| support as a means for fighting the drunk driving | | | | their own cost. Empirical studies have shown this |
| problem. | | | | greatly reduces the number of offenses, although it |
| So, what is an ignition breathalyzer? Well, there can | | | | does not eliminate them entirely. |