Passive Breathlyzer Ignition Locks Are Coming

Frank Williams
by Frank Williams

The breathlyzer ignition lock has been around for years; several courts have mandated a "blow in" device for convicted DUI offenders' cars. Automotive News [sub] reports the web site www.dadss.org (DADSS = Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety) is soliciting ideas from technology developers for a passive system that will prevent the car from starting if it decides the driver's alcohol level is high enough to cause impairment. The automakers are already looking in that direction; last year Nissan featured a concept car with various air sniffers, sweat sensors and a facial monitoring system to deactivate the car's ignition if the driver had one too many. Obviously there's still a lot of work to do on the concept but experts estimate such a system could save 9k lives annually. They hope to have working prototypes within five years.

Frank Williams
Frank Williams

More by Frank Williams

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 14 comments
  • FINANCEGUY FINANCEGUY on Apr 14, 2008

    ihatetrees I read that article, I googled DUI laws to see what was out there,Dont get me wrong if you are hammered and driving you deserve what you get but to me some of these laws are crazy.at least my buddy could afford a lawyer and got most of it reduced except for the failure to control his vehicle he wasnt driving and was not going to drive and he said those without lawyers got their asses handed to them

  • Ihatetrees Ihatetrees on Apr 14, 2008
    FINANCEGUY: those without lawyers got their asses handed to them Yeah. Pay into the "system" and you get a deal - because you've shown (thru an attorney) that you've got the juice to waste a lot of (expensive) court time. Don't get me wrong. DWI is serious. But going after the 0.05% BAC crowd is not the answer.
  • GS650G GS650G on Apr 15, 2008

    DUI is a real money maker for everyone, expect to see this along with GPS nanny controls soon. using GPS they could alert authorities when you arrive at a bar and they can be waiting for you when you leave. Ain't technology grand?

  • Ricky Spanish Ricky Spanish on Apr 15, 2008

    I will simply NOT purchase a car with one of these systems - what if the car decides to shut off based on a combination of factors, even if I'm not drunk. Scary.

Next