New cars in the U.S. may require alcohol detection systems by 2026

New legislation may require new cars sold in the U.S. to have passive alcohol detection systems by 2026. This follows a tragic crash in 2021 that highlighted the dangers of impaired driving, resulting in multiple fatalities. Currently, these systems are still being developed. They aim to monitor a driver's blood alcohol level unobtrusively and prevent the vehicle from starting if intoxication is detected. Concerns have been raised about data privacy related to these systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration emphasizes the need for these technologies to be reliable and user-friendly before widespread deployment.