On January 25, 2006, a Florida truck driver fell asleep behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer truck and collided with a car filled with children waiting for the school bus. Seven children were killed in the car wreck.

On June 12, 2008, he driver of the tractor-trailer was sentenced to seven years in prison. He faced seven counts of vehicular homicide, among other related charges. He pleaded no contest.

The driver did not have alcohol or drugs in his system. He did exceed the federal standards for tractor-trailer drivers by being behind the wheel for over 34 hours without sleeping.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, tired and inattentive drivers may be at fault for about 75 percent of car wrecks. In 2006, about 5,000 people were killed in truck accidents and 106,000 people were injured.

Car wreck attorneys are working to prevent serious injuries and fatalities that result from the negligence of drivers.

With the busy travel and vacation season upon us, remember to buckle up, be aware of your surroundings, and don’t drink and drive.  If you or a loved one have the misfortune of being involved in a wreck, call the attorneys at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP at 1-800-460-0606 to discuss your legal rights.

The state of Hawaii is expected to pass a bill requiring ignition interlocks for repeat drunk driving offenses. Ignition interlocks are devices that operate similar to a breathalyzer—the driver must breathe into it before driving. If the driver’s blood alcohol level is not in the legal range, the interlock system will not allow their car to start. To prevent fraud, the system also takes a picture of the person taking the test and also conducts random tests after the car is started. If the car is already running when the driver fails the test, the car will not stop, but the horn will blare and the lights will flash to alert law enforcement.

Interlock systems would be required for all repeat DUI offenders, as well as first time offenders who are considered severely intoxicated.

The major concern that has arisen over this bill is how the ignition interlock systems will be paid for. It costs about $1,000 a year to install and maintain an interlock, or approximately $3 a day. The bill’s maker wants to set up an indigent fund to cover costs for those that cannot afford the technology. Basically, those who can afford it would pay a little more so that people who cannot afford the interlock can still drive legally. The interlock systems would not be paid for out of taxes.

More than 40 other states in the U.S. use interlock technology.