15

15. Car drunk breath test devices (THE BUILT-IN BREATHALYZER)

Nearly 9,000 deaths in the U.S. could be prevented each year if alcohol-detection devices were used in all vehicles, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Which is why QinetiQ North America, a research-and-development facility in Waltham, Mass., is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the auto industry to develop touch- and breath-based sensors that could be strategically placed on steering wheels and ignition push buttons to instantly measure drivers' blood-alcohol concentration. The sensors would automatically analyze a driver's breath or skin to determine whether or not he or she was fit to drive. If the blood-alcohol level was at or above the legal limit of 0.08%, the car would start ... but not move. The devices are in testing now and will be embedded into a research vehicle by the end of 2013. If all goes as planned, they could be on the road in eight to 10 years.

There are some existing systems that require drivers to blow into a tube; see these articles on the Ignition Interlock (required for NY drunk drivers), the Toyota Ignition Breathalyzer Lock.

Description: C:\My Site\Archives\Car_drunk_breath_test_devices_A_files\image001.jpg