Findings

Congress finds the following: (1) According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, there has been a historic increase in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities since 2019 resulting in one person dying in a driving while intoxicated crash in the United States every 39 minutes. (2) According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 2020 and 2021, driving while intoxicated deaths increased 14 percent and 13,384 people were killed, a level not seen since 2006. (3) Studies show that ignition interlocks reduce recidivism, by up to 70 percent, among first-time, repeat and high-risk driving while intoxicated offenders while they are installed. (4) Ignition interlocks are required for people who have been convicted for driving while intoxicated in 31 States and the District of Columbia, according to the National Conference of State Legislators. (5) The rise in polysubstance impaired driving significantly increases the crash risk on our nation’s roads. (6) One 2018 study from Washington State revealed that polysubstance impairment was the most common type of impairment found among drivers involved in fatal crashes between 2008 and 2016 and among drivers involved in fatal crashes during this timeframe, 44 percent tested positive for 2 or more substances with alcohol and THC being the most common combination.