Saab's Alcokey brethalyzing car key

The Alcolock, the Alco-Detector, so many breathalyzers being built into so many devices these days, it's almost enough to make us wonder whether or not everyone is always functionally drunk, and we're just too sober and oblivious to know it. Now Saab's getting on the wagon (the bandwagon, if you will) with their Alcokey, which will add $400 to the pricetag of your car and will not disarm an integrated engine immobilizer unless you can breathe good and sober into the device pictured. It's being trialed first in Saab's home country of Sweden, so maybe they're also taking on opportunity to make a statement about a little too much Absolut sippy sippy going on this bitter Winter. Or maybe they're just being progressive, socially conscious Europeans. You know, either way.

[Via I4U]

[brownopher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

What that really need is to a breathalyzer on cell phones to prevent drunk dialing.

[Linus Persson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Well, I'm a sweed and i dont drink Absolut. Okay we do have a few deaths on the roads caused by alcohol.

[JoJo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I'll just have my four year old start the car... I'll take over from there.

[Eddie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

What's there to stop me ask someone else to blow into that thing? :-))

[PlanB @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

have you ever driven a saab?
most people probably look drunk when then enter one trying to find the ignition on the steering column.
man... i miss the saab.

[Aleks @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

That's one product that surely won't make it onto the Russian market.

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I've read that this would reduce auto insurance rates by 25% in the US if consumers elected to install these devices... I'd do it! I'd also install GPS tracking on my car to prevent auto theft for another 25% off - bring it on, big brother - I love this stuff!

[Carmi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you've been drinking and you're not sure whether you're OK to drive, you should be behind the wheel. The only acceptable blood alcohol level in a driver is zero. The fact that we allow up to .08 in most North American jurisdictions is, frankly, a complete travesty.

No gimmicky piece of technology will change the fundamental sickness of it all. Comments 3 and 4 (above), even if written in jest, speak to a sickening attitude that maddeningly persists.

I guess it's funny up until someone you know is killed by an idiot who drinks before driving.

Carmi Levy
http://writteninc.blogspot.com

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

"I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you've been drinking and you're not sure whether you're OK to drive, you should be behind the wheel."

Wow, Carmi, no patience for those bleeding-heart liberals and their anti-drunk driving policies?

I think this is a brilliant device. I'll take two.