Drunk driving continues to pose a major danger on roadways throughout Minnesota and the rest of America. In 2017 alone, 10,874 people lost their lives as a result of car crashes caused by drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Volvo is planning to take action by using technology that could stop drunk drivers before they cause an accident. This advanced in-car technology would become available by the early 2020s, the automaker asserted.
According to Volvo, its system would make use of sensors and cameras inside the car to monitor the driver for signs of drunkenness or even distraction. The car itself would have autonomous technology installed that could take over if a driver did not respond to a warning system. The carmaker noted that the system is specifically designed to avert dangerous motor vehicle accidents. It is not the only technological safety enhancement pursued by Volvo; in March 2019, the company announced that it would soon start building its cars with a 112 mph speed limit cap.
A Volvo spokesperson said that the automaker is aiming to prevent accidents rather than limit the damages caused by collisions. With the new proposed system, in-car cameras will look for signs of impairment, such as a lack of interaction with the steering wheel. In addition, sensors inside the vehicle could monitor weaving from lane to lane. If the driver ignores warning signals, the system will attempt to stop the car or pull it over to park safely.
While these technologies are being developed, people continue to be seriously injured or even killed by drunk drivers. Someone who has been hurt by a negligent driver can work with a personal injury lawyer to seek compensation for damages.