Latest news with #JonathanAdkins
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Can you refuse a toxicology test after a DUI arrest? What drivers should know
DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Department of Transporation revealed a new campaign on Thursday that the agency said aims to educate the public about the consequences of refusing a toxicology test. Colorado drivers arrested for a DUI are required by the state's 'Expressed Consent Law' to provide a blood or breath toxicology test within two hours, according to CDOT, which notes drivers over the age of 21 do have a right to refuse a roadside breathalyzer or blood alcohol test. Video: Driver arrested for DUI after nearly hitting Douglas county deputy The agency said the campaign was launched in partnership with the Colorado State Patrol and made possible by grants from the Governors Highway Safety Association and 'Our law enforcement partners across the country are doing everything they can to address impaired driving and make our roads safer, but they face an incredible challenge and need our support,' said GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins, in a statement. CDOT said drivers in Colorado automatically agree to give a toxicology test if a law enforcement officer has probable cause and suspects an impairment from either alcohol or drugs — including cannabis, prescription medications and illegal substances. The law also applies to all persons driving in the state of Colorado, with CDOT noting the rule is still enforced for out-of-state residents and individuals without a valid Colorado driver's license. Lyft asks Gov. Polis to veto rideshare safety bill The idea, the agency says, is that drivers give consent to toxicology tests the moment they are licensed to drive in the state, and not doing so can come with increased consequences that are often 'more severe' than failing the test itself. A driver who refuses to provide a breath or blood test upon a DUI arrest is subject to: An automatic license revocation of 12 months — with increasingly longer suspensions per refusal. Installation of an interlock ignition device, following license reinstatement. Possible increased consequences if convicted in court. Potential designation as a 'Persistent Drunk Driver' in traffic records and, if so, potentially required to get SR22 insurance, a certificate of financial responsibility required for high-risk drivers. Possible requirement to provide proof of DUI treatment enrollment in a Level II Alcohol/Education program. CDOT has a number of safety tips for drivers to help avoid DUI, including planning a sober ride home before leaving the house and ensuring any designated driver is truly sober — and not just more sober than them. Drivers can also take advantage of ridesharing services such as Uber or Lyft, utilize public transit or call a cab, the agency says. If you are out on the road and suspect someone is driving while impaired, you can report them by dialing *CSP (*277). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Waymo Eyes Three New US Cities for Autonomous Robotaxi Launch in the Coming Months
Waymo, an autonomous rideshare service backed by Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., has announced in a press release that it will launch operations in Atlanta, Miami, and Washington D.C. Atlanta's launch will begin in early 2025, with Miami and Washington D.C. services kicking off in 2026. Specific dates for these releases haven't yet been disclosed. The robotaxi organization currently offers rides in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin. Given its relatively early development stage, the use of self-driving technology on public roads has been controversial, but that hasn't stopped Waymo from receiving backing from key voices. 'Waymo has worked with GHSA and our first responder network as they've expanded their service, always putting safety first. As someone who walks to work almost every day, I'm excited to share the road with Waymo in Washington, D.C.,' Jonathan Adkins, CEO of Governors Highway Safety Association, said in Waymo press release. The autonomous rideshare service has logged over 50 million miles through December 2024, with a Waymo post on X, formerly Twitter, stating that the company found their self-driving technology had 83% fewer airbag deployment crashes, 81% fewer injury-causing crashes, and 64% fewer police-reported crashes compared to a human driving the same distance in San Francisco and Phoenix. Still, Waymo's technology isn't without its flaws. The rideshare company's autonomous fleet collected 589 tickets last year in San Francisco, equating to $65,065 in fines. Waymo commonly received tickets for dropping passengers off in commercial loading zones, blocking traffic, failing to observe street cleaning parking restrictions, and double-parking. The company noted its vehicles would sometimes drop passengers in commercial loading zones when alternative drop-off areas were congested main roads or a spot too far from the rider's destination. Waymo also added that some citations also occurred during brief parking when an SUV was too far from its facility. While 589 tickets aren't nothing, they're a drop in the bucket when it comes to San Francisco's traffic citations, representing less than 1% of total tickets. Waymo has used vehicles like Chrysler's Hybrid Pacifica minivan in the past, but as of now, the company exclusively utilizes Jaguar's all-electric I-PACE SUV and is working on diversifying its fleet. Cities like Washington D.C. will serve as another key challenge for Waymo, as The Nation's Capital was rated as having the ninth-most traffic out of any US city for 2024, according to INRIX. Waymo launched its first international test in Tokyo, Japan, in December 2024, foreshadowing a more prominent global presence. The rideshare service's Level 4 self-driving technology remains ahead of Tesla's autonomous programs, which operate at Level 2. Level 4 indicates that Waymo SUVs can complete all driving tasks within specific conditions, which includes geofencing or pre-defined areas in the company's case.
