USAgencies

hat’s the best way to reduce your chances of getting a DUI/DWI – aside from not drinking and driving? Well, it seems some states are serious about developing a solution to cut down on exactly that. Car insurance companies are also taking notice of free cell phone apps that can estimate your blood alcohol level and give you either a green light…or a red light.

After decades of frustration, law enforcement agencies are trying a new approach to attack the widespread problem of drinking and driving with an emphasis on prevention. Simply put, they prefer to prevent you from driving drunk in the first place, rather than try to catch you once you’ve already hit the road…or something else. Three states are now using the new technology by offering apps which can be downloaded to your Smartphone to help keep you and others safe by telling you if you‘re okay to drive or not. Once more research on their effectiveness is obtained, other states will undoubtedly join in…including yours.

In California, Colorado, and most recently Wisconsin, various app programs aimed at reducing the incidents of drunk driving are being introduced and implemented. These are state-specific because they use GPS to locate where you are and then offer you free or cheap alternatives to get you home in one piece if you’re not sober enough to drive. For Wisconsin, it’s a step forward as the Badger State has had a longstanding tradition of drinking and driving.

One of these apps, which is now available, was announced by the Office of Traffic Safety in California as a no-cost partnership with an app that helps users find a taxi cab. This app promotes getting a cab driver to take you home instead of you being forced to make a bad decision and risking a DUI. Again, the idea is to keep you from causing damage or injury should you get behind the wheel when it’s unsafe to do so. It’s just one more tool to aid those who need to get home after they’ve had too much to drink.

Although not to be confused with a breathalyzer, the app recently released by the Colorado Department of Transportation can estimate your blood alcohol content by taking the basic stats you provide, such as height, weight, the number of drinks, and what kind you’ve consumed. The accuracy of the apps works on the honor system. In other words, your honesty is essential. Don’t lie or underestimate the amount of alcohol floating inside you or you’ll defeat the purpose of the app and leave yourself vulnerable to what you’re trying to avoid – a DUI/DWI. If the app displays the message: “Don’t even think about it”- Don’t!

Yet another app is designed to help pedestrians walk home safely following a night of drinking at bars of their choice. Factoring in crime rates, information about the neighborhood, location of the bar, public transit options, and time of day, the app provides a safe path home for users.

Though these apps may not yet be available in your state…know they’re probably coming. The states currently using the apps are providing valuable information to other states. If they prove to be as successful as many proponents believe, it may only be a short while before you can download your own app to reduce your chances of a DUI/DWI.

One thing you can do right now is check that you’re getting the best rate on your car insurance. Why not get a free car insurance quote today?

Would you use an app to reduce your chances of a DUI/DWI? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.