Federal law requires new cars to detect, stop impaired driving. What to know
Every time you get behind the wheel, you’re in control of your car, but that could change in the next few years as a federal law takes shape.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed by former President Joe Biden in 2021, directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require new vehicles to include technology that can detect impaired driving and stop a car if something is wrong.
The law allocates about $17 billion in funding for road safety programs due to rising traffic deaths nationwide.
Impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of deadly crashes in the U.S., killing 11,904 people in 2024, according to the NHTSA.
But the idea of cars monitoring drivers is raising questions about privacy, cost and how far the technology could go.
The rollout has been targeted for late 2026 to 2027, though delays tied to whether the technology is ready could push that timeline further.
Here’s what to know.
How will the technology work?
The technology being developed by the NHTSA and automakers is designed to work in the background, using sensors and cameras to monitor how you drive instead of requiring a breath test.
That could include tracking eye and head movement, steering behavior or patterns like drifting between lanes and sudden corrections, according to the NHTSA.
Some versions may also use touch-based technology to detect alcohol levels or signs of fatigue, creating a continuous check of whether a driver is impaired.
If the system detects a problem, it could respond in a few ways, like sending alerts, limiting speed, or preventing the car from starting at all.
Federal regulators say the technology must be able to “passively monitor” a driver’s performance and accurately detect impairment without requiring any action from the driver, according to the NHTSA.
The requirement is expected to apply to all new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. once finalized, not cars already on the road.
What are the privacy concerns with this technology?
Because the systems rely on monitoring driver behavior, they raise questions about what data is collected and how it’s used.
Right now, there’s no clear federal rule requiring automakers to disclose how that data is stored, shared or deleted, so some advocates warn it could be uploaded to company servers and shared with third parties.
A 2023 report from the Mozilla Foundation found that many car brands already collect more personal data than necessary, highlighting how much information could be gathered through these systems.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has also signaled that driver monitoring systems are likely to play a bigger role in how vehicle safety is evaluated, meaning that data could influence safety ratings and industry standards.
Advocates have also raised concerns about how the systems perform, warning they could incorrectly flag sober drivers as impaired, potentially preventing someone from operating their vehicle or leaving them stranded in unsafe situations.
Will this make new cars more expensive or affect insurance?
Yes, and the impact could go beyond the price you pay at the dealership.
Estimates suggest the technology could add about $100 to $500 to the cost of a new vehicle, with automakers expected to pass that cost on to buyers. But the bigger question is what happens after you buy the car.
If driving data is collected and shared, experts say it could eventually be used by insurance companies to adjust rates based on behavior behind the wheel.
Over the air software updates could also expand monitoring features over time.
When will the requirement take effect?
The NHTSA missed its November 2024 deadline to set the standard for the technology and, as of early 2026, is still finalizing how the requirement will work.
Even once the standard is set, the 2027 deadline applies to creating the rule, not putting the technology in cars right away.
Automakers will then have two to three years to fully implement the requirement, meaning the systems likely won’t appear in all new vehicles until after that period.
Some features could show up sooner as car companies continue adding similar monitoring technology for driver assistance programs.
