OT, PSA. Driver facing cameras

AGRforever wrote:

This is a public service announcement for anyone buying new vehicles soon. At least till people see this can we keep politics out of it? Then move it to sensitive and have at it. We’re buying a new car. Teen #2 needs a car so that means my current car is going to the kids. Some cars (and all for model ‘27) will have a driver facing camera that will determine whether you’re capable of driving by tracking everything about you. Depending on your opinion on privacy. That may or may not be a problem. The real problem is you can’t wear sunglasses or hold your hand at noon on the steering wheel. Or be to short or to tall or all kinds of exceptions. If you do any of those the car will warn you and could even stop driving if it feels like it. As of right now you can turn it “off” every time you start the vehicle by going into the settings. Sales person will tell you, you can deactivate it but actually asking people who have them say it’s a pain in the ass and takes up a warning slot on your dash Just a PSA. If you’re getting a new vehicle sometime soon it’s certainly something you need to be aware of

I will NEVER buy a car with this feature. Hell I even ripped the GPS and Onstar out of my used 2015 2500HD when I bought it. 1st thing I did.

I do not need someone/something or some software program turning off my car or limiting its functionality. Or someone monitoring my actions or words when I drive.

The #1 thing people need to do is not buy these new models and hit the mfg in the pocket. Just keep buying used vehicles for as long as possible.

SurfnRide wrote:

I will NEVER buy a car with this feature. Hell I even ripped the GPS and Onstar out of my used 2015 2500HD when I bought it. 1st thing I did.

I do not need someone/something or some software program turning off my car or limiting its functionality. Or someone monitoring my actions or words when I drive.

The #1 thing people need to do is not buy these new models and hit the mfg in the pocket. Just keep buying used vehicles for as long as possible.

They’re REQUIRED for 2027. Best make sure you got your vehicles lined up.

Sat in a Prius yesterday. Started getting warnings because my arm was at noon. Talked to the sales guy. They assured me you could turn it all off. The Prius FB group said otherwise.

I’m getting a ‘26 Camry but gotta double check that bullshit isn’t in there.

Passed under Section 24220 of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (often referred to in context with the HALT Drunk Driving Act), the law shifts vehicle safety from passive protection (like airbags) to active prevention.

How the Technology Works

Unlike traditional ignition interlocks that require a driver to blow into a tube, this technology must operate passively without requiring any deliberate action from the driver. Automakers are currently developing and testing two primary systems to achieve this:

• Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS): Infrared cameras and sensors mounted on the dashboard or steering column track the driver's face. They analyze eye movements, pupil dilation, head position, and blinking patterns to detect signs of intoxication, severe drowsiness, or cognitive distraction.

• Sensor-Based Alcohol Detection: Advanced sensors integrated into the cabin (such as on the steering wheel or start button) passively scan the air or touch-points. Systems like the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) use infrared light to measure alcohol molecules in a driver’s breath or through their skin.

What Happens if Impairment is Detected?

If the system determines that a driver is impaired, it will trigger an automated intervention. While specific actions are still being finalized by regulators, planned safety protocols include:

• Preventing the vehicle from shifting out of "Park".

• Restricting the vehicle's speed or safely guiding it to the shoulder.

• Activating hazard lights to warn surrounding drivers.

Current Timeline and Challenges

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently finalizing the official Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) for this technology.

The mandate faces intense scrutiny over privacy concerns regarding how driver eye-tracking data is stored. There are also technical hurdles: current systems are not yet 99.9% accurate at verifying precise blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. Because of these development bottlenecks, the technology will not be instantly required in all vehicles by 2027; instead, automakers will be granted a two-to-three-year phase-in window once the final rules are published.

AI

AGRforever wrote:

They’re REQUIRED for 2027. Best make sure you got your vehicles lined up.

Sat in a Prius yesterday. Started getting warnings because my arm was at noon. Talked to the sales guy. They assured me you could turn it all off. The Prius FB group said otherwise.
I’m getting a ‘26 Camry but gotta double check that bullshit isn’t in there.

Required for new car purchases.

I'm 50. I can get 20 years out of a vehicle. Drove a 1995 T100 for 25 years. Will drive my 2500HD for another 20+ 6.6 Turbo Diesel with only 120K on the odometer. It's just getting broken in.

After that I will never buy another vehicle. Robotaxi, Waymo etc... will provide the basic transportation I need except when I need the 2500HD to haul stuff.

I'll never own a car with a driver facing cameras in my lifetime. No thanks. Im doing my best to resist the surveillance state and the incoming social credit score.

purplefaithful wrote:

Passed under Section 24220 of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (often referred to in context with the HALT Drunk Driving Act), the law shifts vehicle safety from passive protection (like airbags) to active prevention.
How the Technology Works
Unlike traditional ignition interlocks that require a driver to blow into a tube, this technology must operate passively without requiring any deliberate action from the driver. Automakers are currently developing and testing two primary systems to achieve this:
Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS): Infrared cameras and sensors mounted on the dashboard or steering column track the driver's face. They analyze eye movements, pupil dilation, head position, and blinking patterns to detect signs of intoxication, severe drowsiness, or cognitive distraction.
Sensor-Based Alcohol Detection: Advanced sensors integrated into the cabin (such as on the steering wheel or start button) passively scan the air or touch-points. Systems like the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) use infrared light to measure alcohol molecules in a driver’s breath or through their skin.
What Happens if Impairment is Detected?
If the system determines that a driver is impaired, it will trigger an automated intervention. While specific actions are still being finalized by regulators, planned safety protocols include:
Preventing the vehicle from shifting out of "Park".
Restricting the vehicle's speed or safely guiding it to the shoulder.
Activating hazard lights to warn surrounding drivers.
Current Timeline and Challenges
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently finalizing the official Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) for this technology.
The mandate faces intense scrutiny over privacy concerns regarding how driver eye-tracking data is stored. There are also technical hurdles: current systems are not yet 99.9% accurate at verifying precise blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. Because of these development bottlenecks, the technology will not be instantly required in all vehicles by 2027; instead, automakers will be granted a two-to-three-year phase-in window once the final rules are published.
AI

Well I was quite sober yesterday. It observed my hand/arm as a hazard and started yelling at me.

Hopefully there will be enough of a backlash against this Big Brother shit to get it revoked.

Artificial intelligence, car surveillance, Internet monitoring and cameras everywhere tracking everything , when did I sign up for this?

At some point the masses are gonna realize that the data centers being built will be used to monitor their every move.

George Orwell wrote 1984 in 1949. Dude was way ahead of his time.

I have a 2014 F150 4x4 (5.0) and I'll drive it until the goddamn wheels fall off. Then I'll turn around and buy another used F150 4x4. LOL, I'll never change, but at my age I'll need only one more vehicle anyways...

Mattyman wrote:

Artificial intelligence, car surveillance, Internet monitoring and cameras everywhere tracking everything , when did I sign up for this?
At some point the masses are gonna realize that the data centers being built will be used to monitor their every move.
George Orwell wrote 1984 in 1949. Dude was way ahead of his time.

Be careful, talk like that will get you sent to the "reeducation camps"......

Kind of interesting that Iran was just blowing up data centers in the middle east.

Seems AGR found a hot-button issue we all agree on. Just bought a "new" 2006 Highlander to replace our 2001 Suburban that had over 300k on it. Bluetooth and backup camera are about as hi-tech as I want to go. And no, I wouldn't buy a car that has the ability to not let me drive.

Statistically, drunk driving has decreased by nearly 50% in the last 30 years, likely via things like increased awareness, car-sharing and the like. Which begs the question: If this problem is diminishing, why is it now so urgent and important that we're willing to sacrifice our personal privacy?

Can you imagine how obnoxious it’s going to be when you go to change the song on your music streaming app and your car starts ALERT ALERT - UNSAFE DRIVING BEHAVIOR -  RETURN YOUR EYES TO THE ROAD and then your insurance premium goes up.

greediron wrote:

Seems AGR found a hot-button issue we all agree on.

Give it some more time....

MaroonBells wrote:

Statistically, drunk driving has decreased by nearly 50% in the last 30 years, likely via things like increased awareness, car-sharing and the like. Which begs the question: If this problem is diminishing, why is it now so urgent and important that we're willing to sacrifice our personal privacy?

Down 50%, despite the laws on it becoming more strict by lowering the BAC threshold making it more likely to be driving impaired.

MaroonBells wrote:

Statistically, drunk driving has decreased by nearly 50% in the last 30 years, likely via things like increased awareness, car-sharing and the like. Which begs the question: If this problem is diminishing, why is it now so urgent and important that we're willing to sacrifice our personal privacy?

Heck, if you don't have a professional football team in your state, it probably went down even more.

SurfnRide wrote:

I will NEVER buy a car with this feature. Hell I even ripped the GPS and Onstar out of my used 2015 2500HD when I bought it. 1st thing I did.

I do not need someone/something or some software program turning off my car or limiting its functionality. Or someone monitoring my actions or words when I drive.

The #1 thing people need to do is not buy these new models and hit the mfg in the pocket. Just keep buying used vehicles for as long as possible.

I don't disagree with the privacy concerns but there is some good there as well. I have two different friends who had life threatening single car crashes late at night in relatively rural areas. Onstar activated emergency protocols for one of my friends whose vehicle slid off the road and hit a tree. Emegency response located the vehicle and literally saved his life as he was unconscious and bleeding out. In the other one, my friend's Iphone detected a crash (once again..late at night in a rural area and down an embankment..and I suspect with alcohol involved). The phone called emergency response and his emergency contacts who likely saved his life.

The key will be to manage legitimate privacy concerns with safety concerns.

purplefaithful wrote:

Give it some more time....

Yeah, it’ll get there I’m sure. One side will blame the other and then off to the races.

AGRforever wrote:

They’re REQUIRED for 2027. Best make sure you got your vehicles lined up.

Sat in a Prius yesterday. Started getting warnings because my arm was at noon. Talked to the sales guy. They assured me you could turn it all off. The Prius FB group said otherwise.
I’m getting a ‘26 Camry but gotta double check that bullshit isn’t in there.

That's your first problem. lol

Yes, I've known about this for a little while now and I thought it was a joke initially when I read/saw it. It amazes me that we've gotten to this point, especially when things like what MB pointed out, statistics may say otherwise. I also will continue buying vehicles before '27 from this point on until they reverse this nonsense.

My question is, will autonomous/self-driving vehicles like Tesla, Rivian, and WayMo have to adopt this as well? I cannot imagine some of these companies are going to want to adapt to those restrictions/requirements.