Autoblog

Autoliv developing automatic in-car breathalyzer

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST

According to stats compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about a third of all traffic fatalities involved someone officially classified as driving under the influence - and that percentage goes back at least a decade. No surprise then that various inventions, from Saab's Alcokey and Nissan's breathalyzer interlock to third-party wares like JATY's breathalyzer and nav system and A&A's Alco-watch have been working on a way to prevent drivers from even getting the car started when they're over the .08 BAC limit.

Yet those all require the driver to perform some action, like breathing into a tube, before a corrective action can be taken. Swedish saftey system manufacturer Autoliv, however, is working on a passive system that will measure the driver's BAC automatically "when the driver gets in the car." The company CEO said a production version is still five years away, which suggests that widespread adoption could come just about the time optimists suggest that autonomous vehicles will also be working to make DUI fatalities just a memory.

Autoliv developing automatic in-car breathalyzer originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Great Britain set to introduce laws making "drug driving" a criminal offense

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, UK

It's taken three years but the Great Britain is finally ready to introduce laws to make driving while impaired by illegal and legal drugs against the law. While Britain's Home Office waitied for approval of a mobile drug-testing unit - currently drug testing is done at the police station - ministers have been working on the details of the law to fall under the Crime, Communications and Court Bill.

The drugalyzers are expected to be ready by the end of the year and will be able to detect up to 13 drugs from cocaine and crack to certain prescription medications in a driver's saliva. An advisory panel is devising penalties for operators found to be impaired and considering the idea of differing penalties for different drugs various, but a one-year ban, jail time and a four-figure fine are looking like front runners.

The run-of-show would be that if a policeman pulls you over and suspects impairment, he'll test for alcohol first. If, in the policeman's eyes, that doesn't explain your horrid driving, he'll test for drugs. If you fail the drug test you'll be taken to the station and tested again on their fixed machine, to verify the findings. And if you decline to be tested at all, it'll be considered the same as declining a breathalyzer.

Great Britain set to introduce laws making "drug driving" a criminal offense originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Congress mulling in-car alcohol detectors [w/poll]

Chris Shunk — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

The New York Times reports that the U.S. Congress is considering a six-fold increase in the annual funding of in-car devices to detect drunk drivers. The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety program's budget would increase from $2 million per year to $12 million for the next five years, likely expediting the development of an effective device.

History suggests that such a device would save thousands of lives. In 2008 alone, nearly 12,000 people died in alcohol-impaired car crashes. Many of those deaths would likely be preventable if there were a way for a vehicle system to seamlessly detect elevated alcohol levels in drivers. Scientists are working on a device that could instantly detect a driver's blood alcohol level by reading alcohol levels on the breath or use a light beam to assess alcohol levels on the skin.

Program Director Susan Ferguson says that said device should be "very fast, very accurate, highly reliable and precise," adding that achieving a high level of precision is going to take a lot of money. Ferguson feels that the alcohol detection system could be the safety equivalent of the next seatbelt, suggesting that it could save 8,000 to 9,000 lives per year.

A total of 13 automakers are behind the project as well, and the goal is for drivers to voluntarily add the mechanism to their vehicles as an added safety measure. We're guessing that adding such a system could greatly reduce the cost to insure the vehicle, giving drivers a financial incentive to add the device. Of course, adding the cost of the device to new cars will likely cost automakers (and in turn, consumers) a fair bit of money, but the hope is that reduced insurance costs could cover the difference.

What do you think, are in-car alcohol detectors a good idea? Cast your vote in our survey below and leave your thoughts in Comments.

View Poll

[Source: The New York Times | Image: Getty]

Report: Congress mulling in-car alcohol detectors [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK looks to implement roadside drug testing

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, UK

According to the UK Telegraph, Britain's government is no longer willing to let those who have illegal drugs in their system slip through any more checkpoints. It has let the Department of Transportation know that it is looking at creating a new law that would ensnare anyone with illegal drugs in their systems, as well as those whose driving is impaired by using legal, medicinal drugs such as sleeping pills.

A British company makes a "drugalyzer" that can detect amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, cannabis and methadone in a saliva sample. That machine is already in use in police stations, but a field unit would need to be approved by Britain's Home Office.

Right now, those thought to be driving on drugs are given the same walk-the-line field used for perceived drunk drivers for decades before the Breathalyzer came along. Countries like Romania, Australia, and Italy already perform mobile drug testing. If enacted in Britain, the bill would likely help the authorities reign in the suspected 23% of drivers and 21% of riders in accidents who have "impairing" drugs in their systems.

[Source: The UK Telegraph]

UK looks to implement roadside drug testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 May 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JATY DR7200: Breathalyzer and nav...all in one!

Alex Nunez — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets

This is the JATY DR7200 GPS, and it does a lot more than just tell you where you are and how to get where you're going on that 7-inch screen. You see, it's got an integrated breathalyzer, too, so it'll also tell you whether you should even be trying to get where you're going. Blow "over" and you get a standard BAC readout, a red "OVER" warning, and if that's not enough, a yellow skull and crossbones to drive home the point that, well, you really shouldn't be driving at all. In addition to all that, it supports just about every techno-acronym you can imagine (USB, MP3, DiVX, JPEG, MPEG, etc.), so if you're in no shape to drive, you can at least watch a movie on the thing while you wait it out. Want one? Just run on down to the local electronics store...in Korea.

[Source: Engadget]

JATY DR7200: Breathalyzer and nav...all in one! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diet driving: Low-calorie diet produces false positives for alcohol

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

Swedish researchers have discovered that a low-calorie diet can register a false positive on certain in-car ignition interlock devices that disable a vehicle if alcohol is detected on one's breath. The anomaly was discovered when a non-drinking airplane pilot reported the incident. Turns out the man was on a very restrictive diet that had him losing weight rapidly, which is what may have caused the false reading. As reported in the latest issue of the International Journal of Obesity, motorists on very low-calorie diets may release certain ketones that could be converted into a secondary alcohol known as isopropanol.

Police officials point out that false positives are eliminated in the field as breathalyzer tests are used in conjunction with secondary tests that focus on the type of alcohol and other factors. No citation for drunk driving would be issued in those situations. However, if you have one of these interlock devices on your car, your low-cal diet could spell the demise of your travel plans.

[Source: drive.com.au]

Diet driving: Low-calorie diet produces false positives for alcohol originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Talking urinal cake's anti-DWI message: "Hey there, big guy. Having a few drinks?"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:34:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Gadgets, Etc., Safety

Of course, just like any sane person would be, we at Autoblog are totally against drunk driving. There have been a few technological nannies cropping up of late lately to help combat the problem, including breathalyzers mounted in vehicles that are wired to the ignition circuit. Thise devices won't allow your car to start until you've passed the test. We won't weigh in on whether these are a good idea or not at this time (personal rights or the rights of others?), but we will show you a new talking urinal cake that's designed to remind men to call a cab or get a designated driver if they have had too much to drink.

The urinal cakes are made in New York, and have reportedly been used by advertisers already. We're not sure how we would react if given an advertisement while we were... ahem, relieving ourselves, but a friendly reminder to drive safely may not be the worst advice in the world, huh?

[Source: Yahoo News]

Talking urinal cake's anti-DWI message: "Hey there, big guy. Having a few drinks?" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan developing drink-and-drive proof vehicles

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Government/Legal, Japan, Safety, Technology, Nissan

According to recent reports, Nissan is developing an ignition interlock that would deter intoxicated individuals from starting their cars and possibly causing great bodily harm to themselves or innocent bystanders should they drive drunk. Several recent high-profile, alcohol-related accidents and fatalities in Japan have brought this issue to the forefront, and Nissan appears to be one of the first Japanese automakers to address the issue.

In a meeting earlier this month, Nissan decided to follow a policy of incorporating anti-drunken driving mechanisms in future vehicles. Two such devices under consideration are a tube-like breathalyzer ignition interlock and a PIN keypad with a multi-digit code that might be tricky for an intoxicated individual to remember.

Devices such as these are readily available in the U.S. and Europe already and are often mandated for repeat DUI/DWI offenders. Anybody remember the 40-Year-Old Virgin's ride home from the bar? Although not a laughing matter, the scene points out the potential for bypassing such mechanisms so they shouldn't be considered foolproof by any means.

Although recent changes to Japanese law have seen fatal alcohol-related accidents decline substantially over the past 5 years, Nissan has had a running association with MADD as sponsor of their Strides for Change walkathon and seems determined to help reduce these types of tragedies. This year Nissan and MADD raised $2 million for the cause.

The number of fatalities from alcohol-related accidents has gone down significantly since the 1980's but with more than 16,000 such deaths in 2004, "drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime," according to MADD.

[Sources: Drive, MADD]

Nissan developing drink-and-drive proof vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Sep 2006 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Did someone ask for this? The Alco-watch

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 13:52:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., Safety

Admittedly, one of us in the Autoblog offices has a watch fetish. Either formed out of an excess of bills burning a hole in our pocket or a significant other who spoils us, its reached critical mass. However, this little piece of horology will not be finding its way onto our Christmas list this December.

Our sister site, Engadget, has posted on A & A's (no, not that A.A.) new breathalyzer-equipped wristwatch, that, in addition to providing the time, date and a "temperature alarm," will give the blood alcohol content (B.A.C.) of its user within a range of 0.2 to 1.5 percent. As .08 is the legal limit in most states, this might prove useful for a certain subset of bar-goers. Judging by the accompanying photo though, it certainly won't win any style awards and we're not entirely convinced that most people would want to advertise their particular consumption problem to the general public.

[Source: Engadget via Foursprung]

Did someone ask for this? The Alco-watch originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Aug 2006 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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