United States of America

US: Effort to Repeal 'Kill Switch' Mandate for Cars Fails in Congress

Is this a vital step in preventing drunk-driving tragedies or is it a form of Orwellian overreach from the government?

Published JAN 24

US: Effort to Repeal 'Kill Switch' Mandate for Cars Fails in Congress

Story

Above: U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) during a House subcommittee hearing on Jan. 14. Image credit: Heather Diehl/Getty Images

The Facts

An effort to repeal legislation that requires the U.S. government to develop technology that enables it to have remote control of vehicles failed to pass at the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Newsweek
FOX News
The proposal, led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), sought to overturn Section 24220 of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which requires the Department of Transport to develop so-called "kill switch" systems that will be compulsory in new cars and can monitor driver behavior and "prevent or limit" operation of the vehicle if impairment is detected.
Reclaim The Net
CBT News
Supporters of the proposed technology, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving, say it will dramatically curb alcohol-related driving fatalities. Meanwhile, critics argue it raises privacy concerns and the cost of owning a new vehicle, adding that faulty technology could create false positives and leave drivers stranded.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
CBT News
Massie's effort to block the move failed after 164 representatives voted in favor of the amendment while 268 were against it.
Newsweek
FOX News
"Unfortunately, the amendment I offered to defund the federally mandated automobile kill switch did not pass," Massie said on X late on Thursday. "57 Republicans joined 211 Democrats to defeat it."
Thomas Massie on X
Four Democrats voted in favor alongside 160 Republicans.
clerk.house.gov

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Someone is killed or injured in a drunk-driving related crash every 85 seconds. This technology will prevent tragedies before they happen and will save upwards of 10,000 lives each year. Claims that it will unfairly burden consumers or compromise individual privacy are misplaced as safeguards and solutions can be implemented.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Narrative B

The idea that the federal government would require auto manufacturers to equip cars with a kill switch that it can use to shut down your vehicle at any time is unbelievably disturbing. It's something that could be straight out of George Orwell's "1984" but it nonetheless received the backing of a majority of representatives.