Been Drinking? Now your car isn’t going to Start!

No more drinking and driving!

In the wake of the Toyota recalls, the automobile debates have begun again and this time, it’s not about EDR’s or black boxes. It’s about preventing drunken driving. The New York Times reports that a government-auto industry program aims to develop a device to detect drunken drivers, which would be installed in all new vehicles. The device, which would automatically detect alcohol levels in the tissue or breath would prevent drunken operators from starting the vehicle. The program has been operating on $2 million a year, but that would increase to $12 million a year.

The money will go to the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety program. That is a cooperative effort among N.H.T.S.A. and 13 automakers, 11 of which are members of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, an industry trade group. It started early in 2008 as a five-year program with $10 million in funding. Each year N.H.T.S.A. was to provide $1 million and the 13 automakers were to split the other $1 million and provide some technical advice. It must be noted that many auto makers already have existing technology that also works in a similar manner and many states advocate legal use of these existing ignition lock systems, especially for serial offenders. But the idea to develop an integrated system which is surreptitious to the driver is something that is new. Of course, many companies have been working on systems which detect steering patterns and papillary size and focus in addition to the breath and tissue levels, thus making it possible for the vehicle to be immobilized even if it were to be in motion.

In car device that disable ignition

According to official records, in 2008 almost 12,000 people died in “alcohol-impaired” crashes. Those who favor the devices say when they are in all vehicles they could save 8,000 to 9,000 lives a year by stopping drunks before they get on the road. In terms of numbers, this is something that will make the roads a lot safer for everyone. But the question is, whether the consumer will agree to such a system and whether he will pay for it as an optional accessory in the vehicle. According to a poll conducted by the insurance institute in 1,004 people of whom 2/3^rdsconsume alcohol, 64 percent of participants were in favor for the system and reported it as a good or very good interventional device. For now it all looks good and seems like one way or the other, we will have roads a lot safer. Until then, please don’t drink and drive.

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