For example, at least 10 automakers have met a voluntary commitment negotiated by the institute and NHTSA in 2015 to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature on nearly all new vehicles produced in the U.S. — not just on higher trim levels.
The provision directing U.S. regulators to require that new vehicles are equipped with passive technology to detect drunk or impaired drivers is also long overdue, Harkey said.
“I do not think that will be something that is just voluntarily done by the automakers,” he added. “I think it’s going to take regulation.”
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade association that represents most major automakers, said the industry has long been committed to supporting public and private efforts to address alcohol-impaired driving.
The industry has been working with NHTSA to develop the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety technology, which features a breath- and touch-based system to measure a driver’s blood-alcohol level.
