Toyota's new Drunkin' mobile
Toyota creating alcohol detection system Wed Jan 3, 7:13 AM ET
TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. is developing a 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 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.
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.
Nissan Motor Co., another Japanese car manufacturer, has already been experimenting with breathalyzer-like devices that could detect if a driver was drunken. Similar technologies, such as alcohol ignition interlocks, are in use in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Concerns over drunken driving have surged in Japan following a series of alcohol-related accidents last year. In August, a drunken driver collided with another vehicle carrying a family of five, plunging them off a bridge and killing three children.
The incident prompted stepped-up roadside spot checks by police, who also plan to stiffen penalties for drunken driving.
TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. is developing a 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 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.
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.
Nissan Motor Co., another Japanese car manufacturer, has already been experimenting with breathalyzer-like devices that could detect if a driver was drunken. Similar technologies, such as alcohol ignition interlocks, are in use in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Concerns over drunken driving have surged in Japan following a series of alcohol-related accidents last year. In August, a drunken driver collided with another vehicle carrying a family of five, plunging them off a bridge and killing three children.
The incident prompted stepped-up roadside spot checks by police, who also plan to stiffen penalties for drunken driving.
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You beat me to the punch. I was just about to do a post on the same thing. I think this car is as crazy as the car that parks itself.[:0] 0 -
of course if someone has just used an alcohol scrub or one of those gel sanitizers they too will be unable to drive the car.
Today the Japanese too often confuse real, functional automobiles with mecha from animated series such as "Macross"0 -
completely stupid. and, how much more would those gizmos add to the price of a car? nobody's going to buy a car that costs more because of junk they don't want on it. 0 -
I figure the drunks will wear gloves. And what about the camera that looks at your eyes? Cripe what if you have sunglasses on ? Or a Pirate with a patch on your one eye. Will that mess up the function of the camera? Come on your foreign japanese experts.. Or what if your pupils are not the same size ( as in my case ) and the car turns off along the interstate. Do I get out and kick the living snot out of it? 0 -
I don't think most drunks would buy one if they knew how it worked. Why would you buy something you could only drive half the time[:0][:0][:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by bull300wsm
I don't think most drunks would buy one if they knew how it worked. Why would you buy something you could only drive half the time[:0][:0][:D]
I was thinking the same thing why why why????0 -
you know salesmen. it has an "alcohol detector" on it, they'll say it helps you find alcohol in the vicinity 0 -
Heck, I don't even like airbags, and would gladly accept a vehicle without them at a discount. 0 -
Im all for keeping drunks off the road but this is rediculous. Im sure insurance companies are loving this one....now they can have the sober driver discount, or better yet, charge more in premiums because this system would cost too much to replace in the case of an accident.
whats next smoke detectors? and then your citation prints off from the dash for smoking in a non smoking city?
I wish these auto manufacturers would come up with a useful gadget, like a button i can push that would make the cell phone of the driver in front of me explode.0 -
yeh, watch, they'll lower rates a little bit because of the gadgets, but they'll raise the rates a bunch for whoever doesn't have them 0 -
Has sweat sensors? Will it shut itself off and set off the car alarm if you have bad BO? 0 -
Bars will start selling sunglasses and driving gloves now. 0 -
good idea if you wanted it. But who put a private company into social control. Some of these sensors are so senstive you can not even have one beer and it will shut off. I knew a guy who was orderd by the court to put one into his vehicle. He said you should wash your mouth out every time because things like Yeast in the Pizza can cause it to go off. I could see a better option being that of like machine that determines your level. But car companies jobs are to make cars not be police. 0 -
+1
i dont want to pay for that crap
worse, you buy it then it breaks and car won't go!
quote:Originally posted by buschmaster
completely stupid. and, how much more would those gizmos add to the price of a car? nobody's going to buy a car that costs more because of junk they don't want on it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by KSUmarksman
of course if someone has just used an alcohol scrub or one of those gel sanitizers they too will be unable to drive the car.
Today the Japanese too often confuse real, functional automobiles with mecha from animated series such as "Macross"
The C&P clearly says that the sensor would detect alcohol levels in the bloodstream, I'm sure all those Japanese engineers are aware of the existance of hand sanitizer. I highly doubt that you just thought of a contingency that a team of expert engineers happened to overlook.0 -
what they really need is a sensor that will go off that prevents me from talking to fat girls after ive had a few beers. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by nards444
good idea if you wanted it. But who put a private company into social control. Some of these sensors are so senstive you can not even have one beer and it will shut off. I knew a guy who was orderd by the court to put one into his vehicle. He said you should wash your mouth out every time because things like Yeast in the Pizza can cause it to go off. I could see a better option being that of like machine that determines your level. But car companies jobs are to make cars not be police.
omg! some chicks better drive with the window rolled down0
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