There is little question that drunken driving remains a significant public health issue in this country. Approximately 13,000 people die annually in automobile crashes in which a driver was intoxicated. That figure has remained virtually unchanged for the past decade, despite continued efforts to reduce the incidence of drunken driving. However, as reported in the New York Times, technology—and the legislation to support it—may offer a potential solution:

A New Strategy to Discourage Driving Drunk

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 — The threat of arrest and punishment, for decades the primary tactic against drunken drivers, is no longer working in the struggle to reduce the death toll, officials say, and they are proposing turning to technology — alcohol detection devices in every vehicle — to address the problem.

In the first phase of the plan, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, backed by a national association of state highway officials and car manufacturers, will announce here on Monday a campaign to change drunken driving laws in 49 states to require that even first offenders install a device that tests drivers and shuts down the car if it detects alcohol.

Many states already require the devices, known as ignition interlocks, for people who have been convicted several times. Last year New Mexico became the first to make them mandatory after a first offense. With that tactic and others, the state saw an 11.3 percent drop in alcohol-related fatalities last year. [full text]

While the mandated use of such technology (for prior offenders) appears promising, it is discouraging that more isn’t being done to address the chronic alcohol abuse that often leads to drunken driving. Restoring and increasing funding for substance abuse prevention and treatment—and improving access to such services—can only help. Technology is, at best, only a partial solution.