I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4890 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 19, 2010 Mr. Ehlers (for himself and Mr. Sarbanes) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to carry out a collaborative research effort to prevent drunk driving injuries and fatalities, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Research of Alcohol Detection Systems for Stopping Alcohol-Related Fatalities Everywhere Act of 2010 or the ROADS SAFE Act of 2010.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities represent approximately 1/3 of all highway fatalities in the United States in a given year. (2)In 2008, there were 11,773 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities. (3)An estimated 9,000 road traffic deaths could be prevented every year if alcohol detection technologies were more widely used to prevent alcohol-impaired drivers from operating their vehicles. (4)The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has partnered with automobile manufacturers to develop alcohol detection technologies that could be installed in vehicles to prevent drunk driving. (5)Alcohol detection technologies will not be widely accepted by the public unless they are moderately priced, absolutely reliable, and set at a level that would not prevent a driver whose blood alcohol content is less than the legal limit from operating a vehicle.

3.

Driver alcohol detection system for safety research

(a)

In General

The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall carry out a collaborative research effort to continue to explore the feasibility and the potential benefits of, and the public policy challenges associated with, more widespread deployment of in-vehicle technology to prevent alcohol-impaired driving. (b)

Reports

The Administrator shall submit a report annually to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives— (1)describing progress in carrying out the collaborative research effort; and (2)including an accounting for the use of Federal funds obligated or expended in carrying out that effort.

4.

Definitions

In this Act, the following definitions apply: (1)

Alcohol-impaired driving

The term alcohol-impaired driving means operation of a motor vehicle (as defined in section 30102(a)(6) of title 49, United States Code) by an individual whose blood alcohol content is at or above the legal limit. (2)

Legal limit

The term legal limit means a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or greater (as specified by section 163 of title 23, United States Code) or such other percentage limitation as may be established by applicable Federal, State, or local law.

5.

Application with other laws

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify or otherwise affect any Federal, State, or local government law, civil or criminal, with respect to the operation of a motor vehicle.

6.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015 to carry out the collaborative research effort under section 3(a). (b)

Applicability of title 23

Funds made available under subsection (a) shall be available for obligation and administered in the same manner as if the funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, except that the Federal share payable on account of a project or activity carried out using the funds shall be 100 percent.