What will prevent driving in a state of intoxication?

American administration of safety of traffic presented the car equipped with advanced technology which is capable to reveal the drunk driver and to stop vehicle operation. In system two sensors. The first looks for alcohol signs in the air exhaled by the driver, the second – tactile – calculates concentration of alcohol in blood a method of near spectroscopy. What will prevent driving in a state of intoxication?
Vladimir Mucibabic, Shutterstock

Belief and administrative coercion – two main methods of fight against alcoholism for рулём. Probably, supporters of a sober way of life in this fight soon will have an ally – the car.

The national administration of safety of traffic of the USA of NHTSA presented a first-ever prototype of the car equipped with advanced technology which is capable to reveal the drunk driver and to stop vehicle operation.

The DADSS project (Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety) exists since 2008. In its framework the noninvasive system which task to reveal existence in blood of the driver of "superfluous" alcohol is developed. Differently, the system should not only find alcohol, but also define that its concentration exceeds the limits established by rules.

Something similar in the world already exists. The legislation of 25 countries demands existence of the devices blocking start of the engine in cars of drivers, earlier convicted of a habit to go under hmelky, in the presence of signs of alcoholic intoxication of the last.

Unlike existing devices the new technology does not demand from the driver of additional actions. It will not need to blow in a tubule that in search of alcohol the system investigated "exhaust" of the potential violator. Clever sensors will make everything.

Sensors in DADSS two. The first is somewhere on the forward panel in a zone of an exhalation of the driver and reacts to existence in exhaled air of molecules of alcohol. Except lack of a tube – it seems, anything new.

But the second sensor – tactile. The sensor located in a steering wheel calculates blood alcohol content a method of near infra-red spectroscopy. Operation of the sensor of a contact is based on property of alcohol to absorb light of a certain length of a wave. Measuring intensity of light, the system precisely defines concentration of alcohol in blood of the driver.

According to NHTSA manager Mark Rozekind (Mark Rosekind), DASS – the powerful tool in hands of owners of vehicles which will help to prevent driving in a state of intoxication representatives of wide groups of the population, for example teenagers and hired drivers. At the same time NHTSA have no plans on obligatory installation of alcoholic blokirator on all cars.

In spite of the fact that the working prototype is already presented, the research project is still far from end. Prior to the beginning of commercial operation can pass till five years. Additional tests are necessary for an assessment of accuracy and reliability of system. Producers want to be convinced that she will not create superfluous problems to sober drivers. Nevertheless DADSS were highly appreciated already by officials and public organizations.

Financing of the project is conducted on principles of state-private partnership. While the agreement with 15 automobile companies operates till 2018, the money allocated in 2012 with administration, already ended, and now the congress considers the bill of continuation of federal financing of researches. Obviously, the presentation of a prototype and enthusiastic responses are dated for this event.

However, at DADSS is both supporters, and opponents. Against the American institute of drinks and trading association of restaurants acts. In their opinion, the system constructed on passive sensors of voluntary control, will not clean from roads of conscious breakers of rules.

Updated: 05.02.2016 — 06:20