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.

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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.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070103/ap_on_...drunken_driving

Not a bad idea. As long as it doesnt send a message to the police and just stops you from driving drunk, then I dont see whats wrong for it. As long as just you and the car know, then it will save alot of people from making mistakes.

Not sure if the way the system is put in is a good idea.

 

It'd be a much better idea to have the system not start the car at all, not half and half. The potential for danger once a car is started and then stops in mid-drive is tremendous. While I'm sure it would help with drunk driving and would limit some deaths from the crime, it would also bring in a new range of accidents because of shutting off. Also, turning off when swerving presents even more of an issue. What if someone just swerves by accident once? Then their car turns off?

 

I think the system I've heard of here (blowing in to the thingy to start the car) is the best because it prevents you from starting the car all together if you're above the limit.

Not sure if the way the system is put in is a good idea.

 

It'd be a much better idea to have the system not start the car at all, not half and half. The potential for danger once a car is started and then stops in mid-drive is tremendous. While I'm sure it would help with drunk driving and would limit some deaths from the crime, it would also bring in a new range of accidents because of shutting off. Also, turning off when swerving presents even more of an issue. What if someone just swerves by accident once? Then their car turns off?

 

I think the system I've heard of here (blowing in to the thingy to start the car) is the best because it prevents you from starting the car all together if you're above the limit.

 

I am sure they will modify it. They cant have cars just stopping on the expressway.

on a side note.. Marvin Lewis needs to make sure that every Bengals player must drive one of these cars in there contracts when signing.

Not sure if the way the system is put in is a good idea.

 

It'd be a much better idea to have the system not start the car at all, not half and half. The potential for danger once a car is started and then stops in mid-drive is tremendous. While I'm sure it would help with drunk driving and would limit some deaths from the crime, it would also bring in a new range of accidents because of shutting off. Also, turning off when swerving presents even more of an issue. What if someone just swerves by accident once? Then their car turns off?

 

I think the system I've heard of here (blowing in to the thingy to start the car) is the best because it prevents you from starting the car all together if you're above the limit.

I am sure they will modify it. They cant have cars just stopping on the expressway.Yeah. It's a solid idea, don't get me wrong - and one that could work. Just a little bit iffy in practice for now.

I really like the idea of having a vehicle detect intoxication. I'm not sure about the stuff that Yoda is coming up with but we'll have to wait and see.

I like the general idea of this, but in no way would I ever want a camera watching me while driving.

Not a bad idea. It's good to see car manufacturers finally taking a more serious stance on drunk driving. There's a lot of potential in this area to save a lot of lives...

Unless this system starts becoming standard for all vehicles, its a horrible business decision. Drunk driving is one of those crimes everone is openly against, but most people have committed it. Bad business for toyota, i sure as hell wouldnt buy that car

Unless this system starts becoming standard for all vehicles, its a horrible business decision. Drunk driving is one of those crimes everone is openly against, but most people have committed it. Bad business for toyota, i sure as hell wouldnt buy that car

 

I have driven after too many drinks, which is exactly why I would want to buy that car. To keep me from making a wrong decision while drunk. I think the people that have driven drunk, and especially those that have been caught or have crashed, would want this. It would save you lots of money in the long run.

Drunk driving is one of those crimes everone is openly against, but most people have committed it.

I think the biggest reason for this is because 95% of those people think they AREN'T too drunk to drive home. Unless you have system in place that tells you that you ARE in fact above the legal limit, you think you are just fine.

 

I did it once. The next morning [a little before noon] I woke up to see my car getting towed because I blocked some guy's driveway when I "found" a space to parallel park...

I've been thinking a little bit more about it, and I'm not sure about the idea - what if you're above the legal limit but some sort of emergency happens? There are a lot of situations, however bizarre, when you would need to drive out of a dangerous situation.

Unless this system starts becoming standard for all vehicles, its a horrible business decision. Drunk driving is one of those crimes everone is openly against, but most people have committed it. Bad business for toyota, i sure as hell wouldnt buy that car

 

How does that make sense? It prevents you from making a mistake.

 

As long as it doesnt report you, or keep track of all the times it turns off, this in no way can be a bad thing.

If it prevents you from turning on because your drunk, how can that be a bad thing? Either let someone else drive or wait until your BA level lowers.

Unless this system starts becoming standard for all vehicles, its a horrible business decision. Drunk driving is one of those crimes everone is openly against, but most people have committed it. Bad business for toyota, i sure as hell wouldnt buy that car

 

How does that make sense? It prevents you from making a mistake.

 

As long as it doesnt report you, or keep track of all the times it turns off, this in no way can be a bad thing.

If it prevents you from turning on because your drunk, how can that be a bad thing? Either let someone else drive or wait until your BA level lowers.

 

You have no money, no cell phone, and all ur friends are gone. I'd like to still get home. What if it shuts off in a dangerous neighborhood and u get lost, since you are already drunk and you end up dead, by gettign hit by a car or gettign shot

Hopefully Bentley will invest in this technology...

You have no money, no cell phone, and all ur friends are gone. I'd like to still get home. What if it shuts off in a dangerous neighborhood and u get lost, since you are already drunk and you end up dead, by gettign hit by a car or gettign shot

That's why I like the starter kill. If you can't start your car, you just go back to the bar and tell them you are too drunk to drive. Once you have done that, you are now THEIR responsibility. A lot of places offer free rides home. You'll need a ride back in the morning to get your car, but at least you will get home safe.

Dont use mouth wash!

 

 

"Sorry boss I was late because I used scope"

I've been thinking a little bit more about it, and I'm not sure about the idea - what if you're above the legal limit but some sort of emergency happens? There are a lot of situations, however bizarre, when you would need to drive out of a dangerous situation.

Do you really want someone who not only is too drunk too drive but is also in a huge rush because there is an emergency going on driving?

 

I mean, really?

I've been thinking a little bit more about it, and I'm not sure about the idea - what if you're above the legal limit but some sort of emergency happens? There are a lot of situations, however bizarre, when you would need to drive out of a dangerous situation.

Do you really want someone who not only is too drunk too drive but is also in a huge rush because there is an emergency going on driving?

 

I mean, really?

 

 

I could only see bad things happening in this situation..... frantic, drunk and behined the wheel.... I could deffinitly see an inoceant person getting killed by a guy in this situation.

Well I was thinking of really unrealistic situations like a Viking raid on a town or an alien invasion where everybody should be able to drive the hell out of there.

Unless this system starts becoming standard for all vehicles, its a horrible business decision. Drunk driving is one of those crimes everone is openly against, but most people have committed it. Bad business for toyota, i sure as hell wouldnt buy that car

 

How does that make sense? It prevents you from making a mistake.

 

As long as it doesnt report you, or keep track of all the times it turns off, this in no way can be a bad thing.

If it prevents you from turning on because your drunk, how can that be a bad thing? Either let someone else drive or wait until your BA level lowers.

 

You have no money, no cell phone, and all ur friends are gone. I'd like to still get home. What if it shuts off in a dangerous neighborhood and u get lost, since you are already drunk and you end up dead, by gettign hit by a car or gettign shot

 

I am sure they will tweak it so that the car wont start if you are drunk.

 

So you want someone who is drunk and lost to go racing down the street? maybe that person shouldnt be driving or left behind by friends. I think this is a great idea that will save countless lives and save people from making mistakes.

Well I was thinking of really unrealistic situations like a Viking raid on a town or an alien invasion where everybody should be able to drive the hell out of there.

I'm confident most towns in America and Japan are safe from Vikings...I hope. At first I thought this may infringe on privacy, but I think it helps it a little bit. If you're drink and cannot drive, you cannot get a ticket and most likely people you may not want to know will never know you drank. Also, this hugely helps safety, you have no right to handle a potential 2 tonne killing machine if you're intoxicated.

 

Hopefully this idea catches on and in the future we won't have to share the road with people incapable of handling a vehicle (I'm also referring to you, eldery)

Well I was thinking of really unrealistic situations like a Viking raid on a town or an alien invasion where everybody should be able to drive the hell out of there.

I'm confident most towns in America and Japan are safe from Vikings...I hope. At first I thought this may infringe on privacy, but I think it helps it a little bit. If you're drink and cannot drive, you cannot get a ticket and most likely people you may not want to know will never know you drank. Also, this hugely helps safety, you have no right to handle a potential 2 tonne killing machine if you're intoxicated.

 

Hopefully this idea catches on and in the future we won't have to share the road with people incapable of handling a vehicle (I'm also referring to you, elderly)

 

 

Thank God someone said it! I'm admittedly far more concerned about the god awful elderly drivers that disrupt traffic flow during daytime hours than I am drunk drivers late at night.

As am I, because at least everyone acknowledges that drunk driving is wrong.