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About the Process

The Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have entered into a cooperative research agreement to explore the feasibility, the potential benefits of, and the public policy challenges associated with a more widespread use of in-vehicle technology to prevent alcohol-impaired driving. This 5-year agreement requires that ACTS and NHTSA work together to engage in cooperative research that advances the state of alcohol detection technology. The program is taking a voluntary market-driven approach to implementation. ACTS is a nonprofit organization that is funded by motor vehicle manufacturers (BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo). These ACTS members represent a majority of automotive companies that develop and build new vehicles for the U.S. market.

ACTS provides the leadership in overseeing a step-by-step, data-driven process to ensure that effective technologies are developed. Technology performance criteria have been established and a multi-stage research program has been initiated that includes the development of proof-of-concept projects to evaluate promising technological approaches, followed by prototype development and testing phases. Project leadership is provided by a Program Manager and a Technical Manager who work closely together to ensure completion of each work phase of the program. In order to consider the views of industry and other stakeholders ACTS formed a Blue Ribbon Panel of experts, including representatives from automotive manufacturers and suppliers, public interest and research organizations, government representatives both domestic and international, and experts in the science of alcohol toxicology, behavioral impairment, human factors, and highway safety research.

Research Program Plan

Organizational Structure

DADSS Presentations

Click one of the links below for more information and materials.

Blue Ribbon Panel Members

Dr. Susan Ferguson,
Chair
ACTS

Deborah Bakker
Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc.

Dr. Douglas J. Beirness
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

Paul Boase
Transport Canada

Dr. Joerg Breuer
Daimler AG

Dr. John L. Campbell
Battelle, Center for Human Performance and Safety

Senator Kent L. Cravens
New Mexico State Senate

Mike Finkelstein
Michael Finkelstein & Associates

Dr. R. Thomas Gentry
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Dr. Ralph Hingson
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Katsutoshi Ishida
Japan Automobile Standards Internationalization Center

Liza Jakobsson
Swedish Road Administration

Gay Kent
General Motors Corporation

Nancy Bell
Chrysler Group

Adam Kopstein
Volvo Cars

Andie Murie
MADD Canada

Anna-Maria Schneider
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Kevin Ro
Toyota Motor North America, Inc

Hideki Suzuki
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.

Sam Campbell
BMW of North America, LLC

James Vondale
Ford Motor Company

Debbie Weir
MADD

Bob Yakushi
Nissan North America, Inc.

Dave Zuby
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Observers

Erika Jones
Mayer Brown

Robert Strassburger
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers

Eric Traube
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Bud Zaouk
QinetiQ North America