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Nissan Turns to Technology to Stop Drunk Driving

StonyandCher writes with a ComputerWorld story about new efforts by Nissan to reduce the danger of intoxicated drinkers through technology. A trio of new features installed in a prototype vehicle demonstrated this past week are designed to minimize the damage a drunk behind the wheel can cause. "The first [system] attempts to directly detect alcohol in the driver's sweat and gear shift lever. A second system in the car uses a camera mounted in front of the driver to monitor eye movement. If the driver is drowsy it triggers the seat belt to tighten and this movement will hopefully snap the driver out of their drowsiness or prompt them to take a rest. A third system monitors the path of the vehicle to ensure it's traveling in a straight line and not weaving about the road, as is common with a drunken driver."

8 of 287 comments (clear)

  1. oh no by b3x · · Score: 5, Funny

    bad for those of us with a lazy eye, use hand disinfectants, and weave to warm up our tires.

  2. Solution! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Solution: Build environmentally-friendly, agrarian, energy-concious biodomes. Since man (and woman) will be at peace with nature and balance, they will only need to travel as far as their garden rather than to the work place or the pub (which require vehicles.)

    Problem solved!

  3. Hmmm by Bluesman · · Score: 3, Funny

    "The first [system] attempts to directly detect alcohol in the driver's sweat and gear shift lever."

    Sorry Nissan, only my wife touches my gear shift lever.

    Badum, tiss!

    Thanks, I'll be here all week, enjoy the buffet, don't forget to tip your waitress.

    --
    If moderation could change anything, it would be illegal.
  4. Hey buddy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The first [system] attempts to directly detect alcohol in the driver's sweat and gear shift lever.

    Uhm, quit attempting to detect alcohol in my "gear shift lever". I've already heard THAT line fifty times tonight, queerboy.

  5. Shit... by EK103 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I used rubbing alcohol to clean my gear shift

  6. A new defense? by weak* · · Score: 5, Funny

    What do you mean occifer? My car says I'm sotally tober.

    --
    The Schwartz space ain't from Spaceballs.
  7. In a straight line, eh? by bluemonq · · Score: 2, Funny

    So I guess if you're going to drive drunk in a Nissan equipped with one of these systems, don't travel anywhere with curves?

  8. Re:What About Bartenders or Waiters? by untaken_name · · Score: 2, Funny

    If only most cars had some sort of...I don't know, maybe some type of compartment in which people could store their gloves. Oh, well, guess they're SOL.