Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) has first-hand knowledge of the dangers of drunk driving.

Luján was hit head-on by a drunk driver in 1992, according to KOB 4. 

The senator authored the Ride Act – legislation that requires the federal government to demand new technology for cars to detect when a driver is drunk. The bill was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal signed into law last year.

“When I was hit head-on, it shook me to my core,” Luján told KOB 4, adding that DWI statistics are getting worse. “The past three years have seen a sharp increase in these crashes. But, now we have the technology, the determination, and the law to stop it.”

Luján formed a group to develop a plan for implementing the law, KOB 4 reported. The group will analyze the habits of drivers and work with experts to develop technology that can identify impaired driving and stop it.

Nothing has been endorsed yet. 

“The mandate is technology-neutral, and there are many types of technologies to consider,” Stephanie Manning, co-chair of the Technical Working Group on Impairment Prevention Technology, told KOB 4.

“Most drunk drivers, estimated 80 to 90% of drunk drivers, will drive recklessly prior to a fatal crash,” Ken Snyder of the Utah State Huntsman School of Business said.

“New federal technology safety standards are expected to be released in late 2024,” according to KOB 4.

The Lane Assist technology that exists in some cars currently can be used to monitor reckless driving.