Self-Driving Cars and the End of DUI?
Will Self-Driving Cars End DUI?
One of the most frequently asked questions I get is, “Did Uber kill your business?” Occasionally, someone will ask about the arrival of self-driving cars. Well, the unfortunate truth is that neither self-driving cars or the Uber/Lyft phenomena is a panacea.
Self-Driving Cars
Self-driving cars have a great potential to stop DUI drivers. But… they will take years to integrate fully and they will not solve the problem. Most self-driving models require a person to be in the driver’s seat. If that driver is intoxicated and/or impaired, then according to Ohio law he/she is still breaking the law. Currently, the major worry about self-driving cars is, “Can we trust the technology?” My belief is that until we completely remove the human from the equation we will still require a sober driver. Practically, however, the only way one would know of the inebriated driver would be as a result of the failure of the technology.
Uber, Lyft and Driving
The limitation with Uber is the same as with taxis. Most people do not plan to drink to excess. Therefore, they drive to the location where they imbibe. One of the things I often hear is that the accused drunk driver did not want to leave his/her car behind. Be it a safety issue or having a need for the car the next day, we still have drivers who take a chance.
The War on Drunk Drivers Continues
Despite the improvements in technology and awareness, people are still making the decision to drink and drive. Perhaps the most successful social movement of all time, The Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, still wage war by seeking a crackdown by law enforcement. With the coming legalization of marijuana, we are seeing a doubling-down by police seeking to expand their DUI pool.
“All I do is DUI defense.”
Charles M. Rowland II has over twenty (20) years of experience, most of it in criminal law. He has been a prosecutor, a special prosecutor, and has more DUI credentials than almost anyone in his field. He has been an expert witness, a frequent speaker to other attorneys and an expert on television, radio and podcasts. If you need an attorney who dedicates his practice to DUI, contact Charles Rowland (DaytonDUI) at (937) 318-1384.