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The car that stops you drink-driving
Last updated at 23:52pm on 03.08.07A car that can tell when a drink-driver gets behind the wheel - and stop him or her moving off - has been developed by Nissan.
It uses a combination of electronic 'noses' to sniff the air and cameras and behavioural detectors to decide if a driver is inebriated.
If the answer is yes, the car is immobilised.
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The system can even differentiate between the driver's breath and that of passengers who may have had a drink.
Some cars are already being fitted with 'alco-locks', which require the driver to blow into a tube to give a breath sample before he is allowed to start off.
But the Nissan technology is different because it does not need any action by the driver.
Instead, motorists are monitored from the moment they get behind the wheel. An alcohol odour sensor checks the breath while another tests for alcohol in the sweat of a palm touching the gear stick.
A tiny dashboard-mounted camera monitors the driver's face and eye movements and detects whether they are fit to drive.
It measures the rate of blinking - an indicator of drowsiness - and examines features such as the droopiness of the mouth to check for yawning.
When the detected alcohol level is above a preset threshold - which can be at or below the legal limit - the system locks the transmission, immobilising the car.
A "drink-driving" voice alert is sounded via the car's satellite navigation system.
The technology would be attractive to drivers with a drink problem, and could bring benefits to others in the form of low insurance premiums.
It could even be a condition of getting back on the road for drivers who have been banned for drink-driving.
The Government's Road Safety Act paves the way for persistent offenders to be forced to pay for the fitting of an 'alco-lock' if they want their licence back.
With the Nissan system, the whole car acts as an alco-lock.
The Department for Transport reacted positively to the development last night.
A spokesman said: "We welcome any technological innovations in this field."
The Government has just launched a £3million summer drink-drive campaign to exploit the inherent selfishness of male drivers aged 17 to 29.
It concentrates on how a drink-driver's social life will be harmed - from losing his job to losing his car, and probably his girlfriend as well.
Nissan says the technology could be introduced into new cars within five years and become as common as airbags or satnav systems.
For a sober driver, the face-checking camera and other devices will monitor his state of alertness throughout the journey. A Nissan spokesman said: "When the system detects signs of drowsiness, a voice and message alert is triggered via the navigation system.
"It also activates a seat belt mechanism which tightens around the driver to give them a mild jolt and get their immediate attention."
The seat belt alert is also activated if a driver starts to drift in and out of a road lane.
