Toyota System Would Detect Drunken Drivers, Shut Down Cars

[[TASF]Maverick]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,240983,00.html

TOKYO — Drivers who get beyond the wheel after too many drinks could soon find themselves in trouble not just with the law, but with their cars, too.

Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) is developing a reputedly fail-safe system for cars that detects drunken drivers and automatically shuts the vehicle down if sensors pick up signs of excessive alcohol consumption, a news report said Wednesday.

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

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.

The world's No. 2 automaker hopes to fit cars with the system by the end of 2009, according to the report. Calls to Toyota's headquarters in Nagoya rang unanswered on Wednesday, a public holiday.

I know it's just a concept at this point, but would you purchase a vehicle with this "option/feature"?

[Krackels]

Will it lower my insurance by 50%? Will it increase the purchase price of the vehicle?

Like the old saying goes, "Where there's a will there's a way." I suspect this will reduce drunk driving a little, but for the most part those people that are more likely to drive drunk won't buy one because they know that there's a possibilty they'd have to call a cab or take a bus if they've had too much to drink.

The obvious problems I see are:
One more part to break.
The part would probably need regular certification and inspection (therefore, service costs would increase).

[bd]

What if you've had a few beers and you need to move the car to mow?

I guess you could put on gloves and sunglasses......

bd

[[TASF]Maverick]

The thing in particular that really irks me about this whole thing is that it shuts down the vehicle while it's being driven. It doesn't keep you from starting the vehicle like some of the "authorization breathalizer ignitions" the gov't has people install in their vehicles, it just shuts it down. So you could be driving through the ghetto, or on the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere where you don't get cell reception, etc, etc and BAM! You're vehicle shuts down (read no power steering or power brakes at this point) and you're possibly in a horrid situation if your BAC reads a little above whatever Toyota declares is acceptable.

No thanks.

O' course, I think something like this won't make it to the states. It's probably an invasion of privacy of some sort like Ford's little black boxes from a while back.

[Brickboy240]

Since I rarely drive after having alcohol, period, I don't care. Its going to take alot more than that type of goofiness to keep me away from Toyota's trucks...after 2 years of flogging this Tundra - I will never buy another American truck...sorry!

Yes, this DOES sort of hit me as a "nanny state" type of device, but since so many cannot control themselves around alcohol, its not altogether a bad idea. If you have small children that might be walking or riding bikes along public roads...this should not bother you one bit.

- Brickboy240

[Krackels]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

Yes, this DOES sort of hit me as a "nanny state" type of device, but since so many cannot control themselves around alcohol, its not altogether a bad idea. If you have small children that might be walking or riding bikes along public roads...this should not bother you one bit.

- Brickboy240

It'd be a much better idea for proprieters of establishments that serve alcohol to call cabs for their inebrieated customers.

Like I said, unless if it became a mandatory option in all vehicles new and used. I doubt those people that would be most likely to drive drunk would venture to buy one.

[sermon8r]

I dont drink so I dont need it...However if you could get an insurance discount to offset the xtra cost..if any ....hummmm.....

[Timmy44221]

Horrible Idea. What if you had some cough medicine or a breath mint tha tcontains alcohol (ie. most of them). You (for a short time) cannot use your vehicle. It will do nothing to lower drunk driving issues. Its the same with gun control, IT ALL ABOUT THE CONTROL.

[robinsre]

rather than have this on ALL vehicles I'd much rather see it mandated on folks who have a history of drunk driving and are ready to have their licenses reinstated. I am all for a second chance (for some people) but allowing them to make the same mistake a second time is a bit careless.

[Krackels]

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...

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.

So basically the car wouldn't be smart enough to tell if you had spilled alcohol in your car or on yourself. I wonder if gasoline fumes could give a false positive. I think this car wouldn't be very popular with the donut spinning and street racing crowd. One sharp turn and the engine cuts out.