H.R. 2138 – Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving Act of 2021

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 12:53 AM UTC

The Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving Act of 2021 directs the Secretary of Transportation to create a new vehicle safety standard that requires all new passenger cars to include advanced drunk‑driving prevention technology. The rule‑making process must begin within 18 months of the law’s enactment and result in a final rule within five years, giving manufacturers 2‑3 years to comply. The law targets vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, and ultimately drivers by mandating passive systems that detect impairment or a blood‑alcohol level of .08 or higher and limit vehicle operation.

Key Provisions

The Secretary of Transportation must issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking within 18 months to start developing the new safety standard.
A notice of proposed rulemaking must be issued by three years after enactment to continue the rulemaking process.
A final rule establishing the safety standard must be issued by five years, with an effective date 2‑3 years later for manufacturers to meet.
If the standard cannot meet existing legal requirements, the Secretary must report the reasons to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
The Secretary must work with automakers, suppliers, safety groups, and universities to speed development and integration of the required technology.
The law defines “advanced drunk driving prevention technology” as a passive system that monitors driver performance, detects a blood‑alcohol level of .08 or higher, or otherwise detects impairment and limits vehicle operation.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee

March 24, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 23, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 23, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee

March 24, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 23, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2138

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 23, 2021

Mrs. Dingell (for herself, Miss Rice of New York, and Mr. McKinley) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe a motor vehicle safety standard requiring that passenger motor vehicles be equipped with advanced drunk driving prevention technology, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving Act of 2021.

2.

Advanced drunk driving prevention technology

(a)

Requirements

(1)

Motor vehicle safety standard

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to initiate a rulemaking to prescribe a motor vehicle safety standard under section 30111 of title 49, United States Code, that requires passenger motor vehicles manufactured after the effective date of such standard to be equipped with advanced drunk driving prevention technology.

(2)

Notice and comment

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking in order to continue the rulemaking proceeding required by paragraph (1).

(3)

Final rule

(A)

Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe a final rule containing the motor vehicle safety standard required under this subsection. The final rule shall specify an effective date that provides at least 2 years, and no more than 3 years, to allow for manufacturing compliance.

(B)

If the Secretary determines that a new motor vehicle safety standard required under this subsection cannot meet the requirements and considerations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Senate describing the reasons for not prescribing such a standard.

(b)

Development

The Secretary shall work directly with manufacturers of passenger motor vehicles, suppliers, safety advocates, and other interested parties, including universities with expertise in automotive engineering, to—

(1)

accelerate the development of the advanced drunk driving prevention technology required to prescribe a motor vehicle safety standard described in subsection (a); and

(2)

ensure the integration of such technology into passenger motor vehicles available for sale at the earliest practicable date.

(c)

Definitions

In this section—

(1)

the term advanced drunk driving prevention technology means a passive system which—

(A)

monitors a driver’s performance to identify impairment of a driver;

(B)

a system which passively detects a blood alcohol level equal to and exceeding .08 blood alcohol content; or

(C)

a similar system which detects impairment and prevents or limits vehicle operation;

(2)

the term motor vehicle safety standard has the meaning given such term in section 30102 of title 49, United States Code; and

(3)

the term passenger motor vehicle has the meaning given such term in section 32101 of title 49, United States Code.