5 ms·

I think this kill switch does not belong in the US. Firstly, I've seen people who have DWI get a special license to drive to work and to get groceries. We simp

by mcny 3y ago

I think this kill switch does not belong in the US. Firstly, I've seen people who have DWI get a special license to drive to work and to get groceries. We simply do not have the public transit infrastructure. Come back with this when we have decent coverage of public transit. Secondly, we don't have universal health care. You could end up with thousands in just ambulance expenses if you are out of network. If I am not imminently dying (how can I judge that?), we are driving ourselves. Thirdly, this likely makes cars more expensive. See first point. We can't do that without decent public transit coverage. Yes, we have a lot of people die on the roads in the US. No, the solution isn't as easy as adding a kill switch.

krisoft 3y ago
> Firstly, I've seen people who have DWI get a special license to drive to work and to get groceries. Do they get a licence to drive while intoxicated? Or people with a history of driving while intoxicated are bared from general driving, but get a special licence so they can drive but only to work and to get groceries?
- actionfromafar 3y ago
  The latter.
  - krisoft 3y ago
    In that case how is this an argument against the type of kill switch described?
    - josephcsible 3y ago
      Requiring kill switches in cars just for people who have been convicted of DWI is okay. Requiring kill switches in cars for the entire population is not.
- kkielhofner 3y ago
  They get what is known as an "Occupational License". As parent noted for almost all of the US if you don't have a car you cannot participate in the economy. You can't get anywhere to work and you can't get anywhere to shop. You can't get healthcare. You basically can't do anything. Drunk driving penalties in almost all states include a minimum six-month license suspension. However, if that were universal it would completely destroy lives and have massive downstream effects. The Occupational License is an (on paper) license solely limited to driving between specifically classified types of places - work, church, healthcare, basic shopping, school, some stuff for your children, etc. Not only is it not a license to drive drunk, many of them have the added condition that the vehicle needs an "ignition interlock" device (paid for by the driver) that requires a breath sample before the car will move. Many of them also have functionality where you need to periodically blow into it while driving before the device shuts the engine down. Of course enforcement here is an issue. Many people drive with completely suspended/revoked licenses, no insurance, etc and get away with it everyday. However, many police departments deploy either stationary ALPRs (automatic license plate readers) or have them installed on police vehicles. They're creepy but amazing - I was on a "ride along" with the police once and we'd be driving down the road at 45 mph. It would sound an alarm and have a synthesized voice that says something like "Florida license XYZ - suspended". The cop would just turn the car around and pull the person over.
matsemann 3y ago
> Firstly, I've seen people who have DWI get a special license to drive to work and to get groceries. And this would stop them from driving drunk. How is that bad? Or are you suggesting they should be able to drive drunk as it's the only way they can get to work?

by mcny 3y ago

krisoft 3y ago

> Firstly, I've seen people who have DWI get a special license to drive to work and to get groceries. Do they get a licence to drive while intoxicated? Or people with a history of driving while intoxicated are bared from general driving, but get a special licence so they can drive but only to work and to get groceries?

actionfromafar 3y ago
The latter.
- krisoft 3y ago
  In that case how is this an argument against the type of kill switch described?
  - josephcsible 3y ago
    Requiring kill switches in cars just for people who have been convicted of DWI is okay. Requiring kill switches in cars for the entire population is not.
kkielhofner 3y ago
They get what is known as an "Occupational License". As parent noted for almost all of the US if you don't have a car you cannot participate in the economy. You can't get anywhere to work and you can't get anywhere to shop. You can't get healthcare. You basically can't do anything. Drunk driving penalties in almost all states include a minimum six-month license suspension. However, if that were universal it would completely destroy lives and have massive downstream effects. The Occupational License is an (on paper) license solely limited to driving between specifically classified types of places - work, church, healthcare, basic shopping, school, some stuff for your children, etc. Not only is it not a license to drive drunk, many of them have the added condition that the vehicle needs an "ignition interlock" device (paid for by the driver) that requires a breath sample before the car will move. Many of them also have functionality where you need to periodically blow into it while driving before the device shuts the engine down. Of course enforcement here is an issue. Many people drive with completely suspended/revoked licenses, no insurance, etc and get away with it everyday. However, many police departments deploy either stationary ALPRs (automatic license plate readers) or have them installed on police vehicles. They're creepy but amazing - I was on a "ride along" with the police once and we'd be driving down the road at 45 mph. It would sound an alarm and have a synthesized voice that says something like "Florida license XYZ - suspended". The cop would just turn the car around and pull the person over.

matsemann 3y ago

> Firstly, I've seen people who have DWI get a special license to drive to work and to get groceries. And this would stop them from driving drunk. How is that bad? Or are you suggesting they should be able to drive drunk as it's the only way they can get to work?