Toyota Creating In-Vehicle Alcohol Detection System

srizah writes "Toyota is developing an Alcohol Detection System that can detect drunken drivers and would immobilize the car when it detects excessive alcohol consumption. From the article: 'Cars fitted with the detection system will not start if sweat sensors in the driving wheel detect high levels of alcohol in the driver's bloodstream, according to a report carried by the mass-circulation daily, Asahi Shimbun. The system could also kick in if the sensors detect abnormal steering, or if a special camera shows that the driver's pupils are not in focus. The car is then slowed to a halt, the report said.'"

Comments

Where's the War On ... ?

[serutan]

Since the 9/11 attacks more than 100,000 Americans have been killed by drunk drivers, who have been causing a 9/11 death toll every 2 months since about 1960. But I've never heard of anyone high up in politics proposing a $300 billion War On Drunken Idiots. Penalties and counseling don't seem to have done the job. Maybe we could make a dent in the problem by spending a couple Smart-Bombs worth of money on technology such as this. I imagine an array of sensors -- sweat, vapor, maybe a reaction time test. Or how about a fingerprint scanner mounted under the far left side of the dashboard? Some governments are moving toward requiring GPS units in cars on the shaky premise of more accurate highway tax collection. If they want to impose surveillance technology on people, I would think that the potential to save thousands of lives every year would at least be more convincing.