Must watch if you’re wondering what the kill switch amendment was going to stop? Trust me, it’s real, my Chevy has self-drive mode. If I glance back at the kids, self-drive mode is disabled. Imagine the government being able to disable the entire car‼️🐍
— Tudor Dixon (@TudorDixon) January 24, 2026
The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed by President Biden, contains a provision that requires automakers to install "advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology" in all new vehicles. [1, 2]
While opponents and some media outlets describe this technology as a "kill switch" that gives the government control to turn off vehicles, fact-checkers and safety groups argue the terminology is misleading and that the law does not provide remote access to law enforcement. [1, 2]
Here is a breakdown of the facts based on the legislation and expert analysis:
What the Law Actually Says
- The Provision: Section 24220 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish a federal motor vehicle safety standard for advanced impaired driving technology.
- The Deadline: The technology is expected to be mandatory in all new passenger vehicles by 2026 or shortly thereafter, following a required study and implementation period.
- The Technology: The system is intended to "passively monitor the performance of a driver... to accurately identify whether that driver may be impaired" and to "prevent or limit motor vehicle operation if an impairment is detected".
- Purpose: The primary stated goal is to reduce drunk driving, with advocacy groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) supporting the initiative. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Addressing "Kill Switch" Concerns
- No Remote Access for Government: Experts in vehicle safety and industry representatives have stated that there is no provision in the law giving police or government officials the ability to remotely shut down a car.
- "Closed Loop" System: The technology is intended to be a "closed loop," meaning the system will be internal to the car, and data will not be shared externally, according to researchers involved in its development.
- Impairment Detection: The system is designed to prevent the car from starting or to pull it over if it detects alcohol impairment or, potentially, drowsy/distracted driving, rather than acting as a remote "off" switch for authorities. [1, 2, 9, 10]
Privacy and Implementation Concerns
- Privacy Risks: Critics argue that the technology, which may use cameras to track eye movement or sensors to detect alcohol on breath/skin, could result in surveillance, data collection, and potential privacy violations.
- False Positives: There are concerns about potential technological errors, where a sober driver could be stranded by a false positive, potentially in a dangerous situation.
- No Final Standard Yet: As of late 2023, the NHTSA had not yet issued a final rule outlining the specific technology that will be required. [3, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14]
Summary: The infrastructure bill mandates that new cars detect intoxicated drivers and prevent them from operating the vehicle by 2026. While it requires technology that can stop a car from driving, there is no evidence the law provides a "backdoor" for remote government surveillance or remote vehicle shutdown. [1, 6, 15]
AI responses may include mistakes.
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