Nissan begins testing drunk-proof car

On August 1st, Nissan Japan will begin joint testing with authorities on a new system which prevents drivers from starting their cars if they've been drinking. The technology, which we mentioned back in 2006, can disable the vehicle's ignition after analyzing a driver's level of intoxication using an onboard breathalyzer. The tests will take place with cars used by local government staff in a variety of Prefectures around Japan, utilizing the opinions of the drivers to further develop the system. The company recently added a "Carwings" navigation system to its vehicles, which issues warnings to drivers under the influence, and the automaker hopes that technologies such as these could halve the number of serious accidents involving Nissan vehicles by 2015. [Warning: subscription required]

[James Barnes @ Jul 23rd 2007 3:53PM]

Drunk proof car ... Who'd buy one of those?

15 mins before some 16 year old hacks the system.

[Muu @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:07PM]

That's exactly what I asked myself at first.

I assume it does add a little bit of security to yourself as well, though. One drink doesn't put most people over the legally drunk line, and you could be sure with a car breathlizer. You may also get insurance cost benefits, since unless the system is hacked there is guaranteed to be no 'drunk' driver on the driver's seat. Depending on the possible discounts I think the latter will be a very strong selling point.

[Mike @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:26PM]

Governments, corporations with fleet cars, trucking companies...imagine how much lower their insurance costs and liability would be if they could ensure their cars would never be driven under the influence...

[Andrew @ Jul 24th 2007 9:12AM]

Easy hack:
1) Get to bar
2) Exhale into a balloon
3) Get plastered
4) Use the air in the balloon on the breathalizer
5) Swirve onto the expressway

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jul 24th 2007 2:15PM]

@Andrew:

The air in the ballon would be cold and could fail the test when it registers at 70°f instead of the normal 98.6°.

[mysticstylezdotcom @ Jul 23rd 2007 3:56PM]

What if you NEED to use your car?

Like, you had a drink and you forgot to turn off your hair drier or something. I'd be so pissed if I couldn't start my car because of a couple beers or something.

[paul34 @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:02PM]

So the fact you need to go somewhere makes it ok to drive drunk? No offense, but you're the sort of people that T-bone sober people just trying to get to work or school.

[Carlton @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:11PM]

I agree with paul34, and hope you're joking, mysticstylezdotcom. There is *never* an excuse to drive under the influence -- period.

[andy @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:22PM]

You display a level of stupidity that is dumb.

[SimbaDogg @ Jul 23rd 2007 9:13PM]

i dont wanna bash on you anymore, but you're really an idiot. i'm sure no matter where you are, you can always call someone.

[MrFuNKy @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:08PM]

How about a cell phone proof car that only lets you make calls when the car is parked?

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:12PM]

Now you're on to something, because passing laws about it doesn't seem to be working at all.

I still end up behind some idiot either going too fast or too slow and weaving because they are yapping away while driving.

[Will @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:28PM]

Sounds great, but a phone that couldn't be used while driving also wouldn't allow use in the passenger seat.

"I need to call for directions! Pull over so I can use the phone!"

Depending on how it was implemented it would also cause problems with people who need to make calls from on other transportation systems, like trains or buses.

I hate idiots talking on phones on the bus as much as the next guy, but sometimes they're needed and useful. It would be more sensible, effective, and just to ban idiots from driving or riding in vehicles.

:)

[pandaSmore @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:47PM]

People should just get a headset.

[Carlton @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:11PM]

Sounds great, unless you just have someone else, not drunk, do the breathalyzer. Course, that begs the question, why isn't the the sober person driving?

Also, the people you need to worry about driving drunk, we would they buy this car (as another poster mentioned).

[Will @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:33PM]

Or why your friend would put forth extra effort to let you drive drunk. A sober friend will generally try to stop you. Some people might not do anything and follow the "Whatever, he's an idiot" school of thought. But I can't think of a scenario when I'd say to someone I was hanging out with "Here, let me start your car for you so you can DUI."

[Erica @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:31PM]

When I was a kid, my cousin's mom had one of these in her car because of too many DUIs and I remember her having my 8 year old cousin blow in it so the car would start.

Too bad kids wouldn't know any better.

[SYN @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:12PM]

We already have these in canada, but they are only installed if you get caught driving drunk.

[SYN @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:13PM]

http://www.safety-council.org/info/traffic/impaired/interlock.html

[siriusfox @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:21PM]

Same thing in the US (Or at least in Washington State). If you get to many DUIs you get one of these. This is nothing new.

[Victor @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:15PM]

They have them in the states as well and can be ordered put in by a judge.

[newgalactic @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:16PM]

If this car lowers insurance premiums for individuals with a DUI/DWI on their record, it may be a good seller for that select group.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:35PM]

I'll drink to that.


(and not drive afterward)

[Electromodo @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:54PM]

What happens if you are driving and the person on the passenger seat is drunk and sleeping with his mouth open? That happened to me way too often to drive drunk friends back home.

So the car will not start in this case?

Also, what stops drivers from breathing to the open window while starting the car?

I am wondering how effective this device will be ... :)

From Fifth Element:
Car Computer: "You have no pints left on your license..."
Bruce Willis: "Shut up!" (tears out the computer from the panel...)

[tehiv @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:44PM]

dude, you have to blow into it... it doesn't just "smell" the ambient air.

[willem @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:56PM]

Although this would be great if it would help reduce insurance rates, but what about false positives like mouthwash, cough syrup, having a drink and blowing before it is fully processed, they should improve the breathalizer technology before actually deploying it..

[rbelew @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:09PM]

Mythbusters did a segment on that, and no it doesn't do anything.

[boolean22 @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:14PM]

Porsche vans already have this technology. No-news.

[Paul @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:19PM]

I will not buy a car that treats me like a criminal. End of story.

[SimbaDogg @ Jul 23rd 2007 9:26PM]

by your same reasoning, you shouldn't buy a car that offers seat belts. how dare you be accused of being a bad driver. the technology isn't for you necessarily, but is for your safety. i challenged you to look up how many alcohol related deaths and accidents there are yearly...

[kjb434 @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:27PM]

This is quite absurd. I'm not a criminal. Why I'm going to be treated like one. It's the same thing as gun laws. They only hurt the people who obey the law. If someone want to drive drunk or get a gun, they will find a way.

[Martin Carlsson @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:29PM]

We have these in taxicars in Sweden already... Just let the sober passenger blow and its ready to go!

[Bryan @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:29PM]

The technology isn't new...these systems are installed into cars all the time as part of a sentence for drunk driving convictions.

[Revrant2394 @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:55PM]

Oh No! However will Miss Hilton ever get to her orgies now?!

[Nathan @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:07PM]

Just get someone who has not been drinking to take the test, then you drive off pissed as a fart lol.

[Wwhat @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:04PM]

I'd feel a bit of a slave to my own freaking car, and I'm a teetotaller who never drank.
It would offend me and insult me if I had to blow my car.

[Frun @ Jul 23rd 2007 8:53PM]

Hope it can discern between a compressed can of CO2 and human breath. Or the bum you just paid $5 to do it for you.

[Steve C @ Jul 23rd 2007 9:16PM]

good luck finding a sober bum...

[Phi Nguyen @ Jul 23rd 2007 10:45PM]

Wow, did anyone else read the headline as "dunk"-proof car? I need to get my eyes checked out.

[Brian @ Jul 23rd 2007 10:46PM]

Good idea, but it will never take off. What manufacturer is willing to take the liability for someone getting in, and getting told by their car that they are ok to drive then getting a DUI? lawsuit city, this is america after all.

[James @ Jul 24th 2007 1:13AM]

Am I seriously the only Engadget reader that's seen 40 Year Old Virgin? It was even pretty funny...

Anyway, yeah, old news, I thought -- I guess the "innovation" is selling cars with the system pre-installed? Huh?

[DerekPowell @ Jul 24th 2007 3:26PM]

I don't honestly see anything wrong with this. I think it could take off if the government would give a tax break to those purchasing these cars (like they do for high effeciency models). Also, I can definitely see insurance companies getting behind this in a big way.

What if it wasn't a complete immobilizer, but allowed an intoxicated driver (to a point) to drive at a limited speed (5mph?) for a limited distance (150 ft?)

That way you can still move your car if you need to, if it's parked illegally, in the way, etc.

I defy you to hurt yourself driving 5mph. Ok it's certainly possible, but if you manage it, maybe you just weren't cut out or this whole "driving" thing.

[Nissan Blog @ Jul 26th 2007 11:38PM]

well i hope this will help prevent car accidents caused by drunkenness... no more paris hilton & lindsay lohan on the road...


------------------------------------
-nathe

[nathe @ Jul 26th 2007 11:43PM]

alcohol's the best but... safety first
--------------------------------------
Performance Parts Blog
Nissan Blog

[Nissan Blog @ Jul 26th 2007 11:46PM]

alcohol's the best but... safety first
------------------------------------
Nissan Blog
Performance Parts Blog