Could Mobile Apps Be Effective in Testing Impaired Driving?
October 11, 2024- Categories: Personal Injury
Despite the wealth of evidence showing how dangerous impaired driving is, it remains a major threat on California roads. Drivers who get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, cannabis, and other intoxicants place themselves and everyone else at risk.
However, technological advancements over the last number of years have given drivers a means of managing this problem. There are a number of apps on the market that can assess your level of impairment before you start driving.
Here we look at a couple of the options and explain how they work.
Druid
The Druid app asks you questions several times when you’re sober. Then, you can take the same test when you have consumed alcohol or taken drugs. It compares your score when you’re sober to the score you receive after consuming intoxicants, giving you an idea of whether you should get behind the wheel or call an Uber.
According to Boston psychologist Michael Milburn, who developed Druid, the app is built around functions vital to safe driving, such as hand-eye coordination and divided attention tasks that can degrade under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Druid can measure impairment from cannabis, alcohol, prescription drugs, recreational drugs, and fatigue.
Seeking legal assistance after a car accident is crucial, especially when dealing with cases involving drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. An experienced car accident attorney can guide you through the complexities of such situations, helping you understand your rights and options. Call Neale & Fhima today.
ENDUI
The ENDUI app, developed by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, is designed to prevent drunk driving specifically.
The app features a blood alcohol content (BAC) estimator, which allows users to input their drinks and estimate their BAC over time. The app also offers options to facilitate safer travel, including locating nearby taxi services and public transportation options to prevent users from driving while impaired.
Additionally, ENDUI includes interactive games that test users’ reaction times and memory, simulating the effects of impairment. Users can also use the app to report suspected drunk drivers directly to law enforcement, providing a vehicle description and location.
Furthermore, the app allows users to create a list of designated drivers that can be easily contacted through the platform. ENDUI combines educational resources, BAC tracking, and practical tools to encourage responsible drinking and reduce drunk driving incidents.
Might These Apps Make Our Roads Safer?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of drunk-driving fatalities in California is slightly lower than the national average. However, drunk driving is still a serious problem in the Golden State. The CDC study notes that 9,288 people died in California in the 10 years from 2009-2018.
It’s important to remember that these apps cannot stop anyone from driving while drunk or high. However, they do provide drivers with a method of assessing their ability to drive before putting the key in the ignition. If more drivers downloaded these apps, it’s reasonable to think lives would be saved.
Testing for Marijuana-Related Impairment
Adult use of marijuana has been legal in California for a number of years. However, driving under the influence of cannabis remains illegal, not to mention dangerous.
There is a lot of confusion around the specific rules and recommendations when it comes to driving after smoking, eating, or otherwise consuming cannabis products. There is a definite legal limit when it comes to the amount of alcohol you can have in your bloodstream while using a car, but no equivalent limit exists for cannabis.
Additionally, cannabis can remain in your system for an extended period; its presence in your blood usually well outlasts its psychoactive effects. This makes it difficult to assess your ability to drive after smoking by measuring the amount of THC in your system.
So, apps like Druid can provide a useful alternative. By asking questions to check your mental state after consuming cannabis, they provide helpful qualitative indicators of whether or not you should use your car.
Injured by An Impaired Driver? Talk to a Southern California Personal Injury Lawyer Now.
If you file a personal injury lawsuit against the intoxicated driver who hit you and you win, you could receive substantial damages, including coverage of lost wages, medical costs, and pain and suffering. Neale & Fhima will work hard to get you the money you deserve.
Please contact our law offices today for a free consultation. We serve Los Angeles and Orange counties. Call 888-407-2955 or fill out our online form.
Attorney Aaron Fhima
Aaron Fhima is a trial attorney who has secured numerous settlements and verdicts against large corporations and some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. Representing consumers and injury victims throughout the state of California, Aaron’s practice areas include personal injury, and lemon law litigation. Aaron has a long record of success taking on large defense firms; and he doesn’t hesitate to take cases to trial when necessary to enforce his clients’ rights. [ Attorney Bio ]
