[RahulNagaraj]

Cars in the USA could soon come with a new technology that detects and prevents people from driving under the influence of alcohol.



According to a media report, the United States Congress has mandated automakers to find solutions for drunk driving incidents. Reports suggest that the Transportation Department has yet to find or come up with a technology that could prevent people from driving under the influence. However, once the technology is available, it will be rolled out across all cars on sale in the American market. It also suggests that the new technology is expected to be introduced sometime by 2026.



Currently, there is a technology in use that requires convicted drunk drivers to blow into a breathalyser connected to the ignition interlock. If the breathalyser detects high alcohol levels it will prevent the vehicle from starting. However, this isn't considered a practical solution in the long run, as drivers will be required to blow into a tube every time they want to start their cars.

Instead, authorities are looking at other technologies that include infrared cameras monitoring driver behaviour. This technology will detect signs of intoxication, drowsiness and lack of attentiveness, which will then trigger the hazard lights forcing the driver to pull over on the side of the road. While the tech still allows the person to drive the car for a short duration, it is better than nothing.

Source: Jalopnik

Link to Team-BHP news

[saikarthik]

This technology is already available in Trucking industry and one of the good requirements.
However there are some drawbacks in this solution like,

• Passenger can blow and unlock, while driver being drunk.
• It's only required for Cranking, means if the engine is not turned off, it's possible to have alcohol while driving or stopping for a brief moment.

This is the reason why this solution was not adopted much. It's always difficult to make people comply if they don't want to.

[akshay4587]

I don't know how it works, but in Australia once you are caught DUI, Cops install an Alcohol Interlock Device in your car for a certain period of time.
I am all for this; this should be mandatory in all vehicles like ABS and Airbags.
Will Save a lot of lives.

Now, we need a device that disables all functions of a cellphone apart from calling via Bluetooth for the driver of the car.

[BlackPearl]

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Now, we need a device that disables all functions of a cellphone apart from calling via Bluetooth for the driver of the car.

I think cellphone usage while driving is a bigger nuisance than drunk driving, but one needs to use google maps/waze etc. Text messaging and social media apps should stop working once you start to drive, but how to differentiate between a driver and passenger? Unless there is a camera or network of cameras within the car to monitor the actual driver, it will be very difficult to enforce any rule.

[akshay4587]

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

I think cellphone usage while driving is a bigger nuisance than drunk driving, but one needs to use google maps/waze etc. Text messaging and social media apps should stop working once you start to drive, but how to differentiate between a driver and passenger? Unless there is a camera or network of cameras within the car to monitor the actual driver, it will be very difficult to enforce any rule.

True, Cellphones are definitely a bigger nuisance these days.
But sadly, there is no way we can curb their usage.