New rules align with federal mandates and could save thousands of lives annually.
On the Dash:
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) will require speeding and drunk driving detection technology for vehicles to earn its Top Safety Pick+ starting in 2027.
- The updated criteria align with government mandates from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, but officials have postponed the implementation of federal alcohol-detection rules.
- IIHS expects the changes will push automakers to adopt new monitoring technology, potentially saving up to 10,000 lives annually.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) will require new vehicles to include impaired-driving and speed detection systems to earn its Top Safety Pick+ rating beginning in 2027, the agency announced Tuesday.
The change was unveiled during a Mothers Against Drunk Driving roundtable on impaired driving. IHS explained that the new, stricter standards aim to reduce speeding and alcohol-related crashes, two leading causes of traffic fatalities in the U.S.
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The requirements coincide with the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which called for passive alcohol detection systems in all new cars built after 2026. Federal regulators postponed the original 2024 deadline while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues evaluating technologies that can accurately prevent impaired driving. IIHS estimates as many as 10,000 lives could be saved each year if such systems were widely adopted.
To qualify for a Top Safety Pick+ award, vehicles will also need intelligent speed assistance. The systems, already available in some models, warn drivers when they exceed posted limits and, in certain cases, can slow the car automatically when adaptive cruise control is activated. Although, drivers can disable the feature.
According to the company’s website, President David Harkey said, “As part of our 30×30 vision to cut U.S. road deaths 30% by 2030, we are committed to addressing the risky — and often illegal — behavior that underlies most fatalities today.”
IIHS expects automakers to integrate the technology into their lineups to stay competitive for its safety awards, which influence both consumer decisions and industry benchmarks.
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