Filed under: Gadgets, Safety, Toyota
Toyota's sweat-sensing steering wheel will thwart drunk drivers
A few months ago we told you of Nissan's plans to test an ignition interlock that would stop intoxicated would-be drivers from starting their cars. Several recent high-profile, alcohol-related accidents and fatalities in Japan have brought drunk driving to the forefront of lawmakers' minds, and Nissan appeared to be one of the first Japanese automakers to address the issue. Not one to let rival Nissan get the jump on them, Toyota Motor Corp. is said to be working on its own drunk driving inhibitor system. And it sounds pretty sci-fi to us. Actually, it sounds pretty Big Brother with huge potential safety concerns.The Toyota system would involve sensors in the steering wheel that could detect alcohol through the sweat of the driver's hands. The system would stop drunk drivers from operating their vehicles by automatically shutting things down if it detects intoxication. And in case the steering wheel sensors don't detect the elevated blood alcohol content (say, if the driver was wearing gloves), sensors could also detect irregular steering inputs (please define "irregular" for driving enthusiasts), or cameras could even monitor the driver's pupils for signs of lack of focus (maybe they wear their sunglasses at night). If anything seems out of order, the vehicle would slowly come to a halt, hopefully not in the middle of freeway traffic. Better to get the drunk driver off the road, but anytime the car takes over the driving, we wonder whether the problem might actually be compounded.
[Source: Detroit News]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Designated Driver 4:37PM (1/03/2007)
So what would happen if I hit a pothole and spill my beer on the steering wheel? Could I still continue driving?
Reply
Nalgae 4:42PM (1/03/2007)
it's also illegal to drive with open alcohol in your car...
Reply
John P. 4:54PM (1/03/2007)
I suggest buying stock in, or selling gloves at all local taverns from now on.
Reply
George Curnew 5:06PM (1/03/2007)
Using technology to keep drunk drivers off the road is a good thing in my books...and the "Big Brother" whine in the original post is unwarranted and unjustified. If a driver isn't responsible enough to stay out from behind the wheel after drinking, his car is doing him (and me) a favor by shutting down. Personally, I would support legislation to equip every vehicle with anti-drunk-driving technology...given that impaired driving is still one of the major contributing factors to auto accidents, such a move could ultimately save a lot of lives. IMO, it's near time that society began exhibiting ZERO tolerance for drinking and driving...I find it encouraging that technology such as this could finally make enforcement of existing drunk-driving laws possible.
Reply
John P. 5:07PM (1/03/2007)
All those what-if's sound like a couple guys sitting around having a couple beers came up with these ideas. LAME!!!!
Reply
Bonita 5:50PM (1/03/2007)
This is stupid. My &^%$#@ hand-lotion contains alcohol. Does that mean I shouldn't drive after using it? Or can I use it only on 2 fingers?
Toyota should spend its time fixing the massive number of recent recalls. Or better yet, put a new mug on that fugly Camry.
Reply
Stphane Dumas 6:06PM (1/03/2007)
#4 Georges, it depends at which place the car will shut down automatically, if it's on a parking lot or in the freeway. As Marine Viper mentionned on Allpar forums http://www.allpar.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=87126 (since you have to subscribe to view the topics I decided to quote)
"Just another reason for me to stay with my older vehicles. I would laugh if it would shut off the car if you put hand sanitizer on. Or what if your on a 3 or 4 lane freeway and it shuts off in fast moving traffic? Watch out if GM/big brother OnStar gets ahold of this type of idea. So if your a stupid one that doesn't drive responsibly wear gloves and drive straighter. It isn't hard to stay straight in new cars (especially a toyota, they never go bad) And for those teenagers, don't live in a small rural town where you can get away with swirving around sober, because your car will shut off on you lol."
Then you got to ponder as a French proverb said "trop c'est comme pas assez" (too much is like not enough). We got to ponder if we'll use all this stuff (some buy all high-tech VCR, stereo players, DVD players, etc...) but don't use all the functions. As I said in French "la modération a bien meilleur goût" (Moderation is a better taste)
Reply
Richard Warren 6:18PM (1/03/2007)
Stupid, can't wait for the lawsuits
Reply
chances 6:25PM (1/03/2007)
This is nothing more than Strato-Marketing (my term), grab a concept that softly combats a social problem and incorporate it into the product. Look at the population trends and the developing country markets -alcohol abuse/experimentation are only going to rise. This is the new "Hybrid" technology twist, It is a new age, hook up and ride....
Reply
Will 6:30PM (1/03/2007)
Maybe a "good" idea at best, but not very realistic at all.
Reply
Sgt. Hulka 6:46PM (1/03/2007)
Aren't Toyota pod people the least likely drivers to have a drink?
Reply
Jim P. 6:48PM (1/03/2007)
What if your hands sweat profusely and end up shorting the damn sensors or get them wet at all? Dumbest thing I've ever heard of. Let the lawsuits begin!!
Reply
SOhp101 6:59PM (1/03/2007)
I wouldn't mind this technology at all... you no longer have to guess if you're sober enough to drive... let your car decide for you!
Reply
Chris 7:16PM (1/03/2007)
Toyota should focus on detecting and fixing sludging engines and repairing their trouble-prone cars.
Reply
Andrew 7:34PM (1/03/2007)
The goal is noble. However, it is too invasive. Perhaps it could be an add-on kit to use for drivers convicted of DUI. A steering wheel swap perhaps... and of course it would be expensive too so insurance rates would go up which would be another incentive not to get convicted of DUI.
Reply
michelle 7:40PM (1/03/2007)
what i want to know is how much time passes before the car lets you turn it back on? an hour, a day, a week? you could end up being stuck on the side of the road for a good long while.
Reply
Mike 7:55PM (1/03/2007)
Good lord. Thats a great idea. Detect whether the driver is drunk or not WHILE THEYRE DRIVING!
I like the idea of stopping people from driving drunk. But I favored some of the pre-start up ideas I've seen before to this. Prevent them from starting their car if they're drunk.
Reply
Howard Kerr 8:00PM (1/03/2007)
I've lived in Iceland and Japan...two countries that take the POSSIBILITY of folks driving drunk, VERY seriously. If Toyota, a Japanese company, incorporates this feature into it's home market cars that is no guarantee it will ever be adopted here.
I remember way back in 1970 when Congress thought it would require a seatbelt/ignition switch interconnecting lock. It didn't last a year thanks to challenges brought by folks who thought it was an invasion of privacy to be forced to buckle up before a car could be started. Those stupid little chimes that newer cars have that try to remind you to buckle up were A LOT more annoying back in the '70s. Now they are almost inaudible.
Reply
dave 9:53PM (1/03/2007)
damn. how am i supposed to get home? next thing they'll do is invent some kinda pot sensor. then i'll really have to grow up. oh wait. there's always airplane glue, you know that stuff toyota's are put together with.
Reply
DKB_SATX 10:50PM (1/03/2007)
If this is implemented, I predict a case in which the system fails to detect a drunk driver who has a wreck. He or the victims in another car will sue Toyota for millions.
Reply