Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (Photo : AutoBlog)
New sensor technology could cause cars to shut down if they sense that the blood alcohol level of drivers is over the legal drinking limit. This tool for stopping drunk drivers could include sensors that perform breath and blood tests.
The drunk driving prevention feature for smart cars was showcased in a YouTube video on Thursday. Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) is developing the sensor tech.
It is explained in the video clip that the breath-based system could measure the number of alcohol molecules in the driver's breath. The breathalyzer is located on the steering wheel, according to Venture Beat. Meanwhile, the touch-based system detects a person's blood alcohol level by using infrared tissue scanners.
The touch-based system measures the intensity of light wavelengths absorbed by alcohol. This car safety technology then calculates the level of alcohol in the driver, to determine if he or she is over the legal driving limit. It checks under the finger's skin.
Both types of auto safety sensors check for a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) higher than 0.08 percent. in that case the car will shut down.
The DADSS car safety program was launched in 2008, according to Daily Mail. Its partnerships include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and 17 automobile manufacturers.
NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said in a release that Thursday it unveiled a test vehicle equipped with DADSS technology. It will examine driver-system interactions.
The DADSS systems will hit the market at least five years from now. The projected cost will be about $400 as an add-on safety option.
Rosekind argued that DADSS has big potential to prevent certain population groups, such as teen drivers, from exceeding the legal drinking limit. However, American Beverage Institute (ABI) argued that DADSS will do "nothing" to reduce motor vehicle accidents related to driving while intoxicated.
Nearly 30 drunk driving deaths occur in the United States daily.
