All Entries Tagged With: "alcohol sensors"

Should In-Car Alcohol Sensors Be Used To Prevent Drunk Driving?

Two years ago we ran a post about in-car alcohol detection systems, a technology that will enable a vehicle to detect when a driver is intoxicated.

New technologies could make DUI checkpoints a thing of the past

At that time, we asked the question Should in-car alcohol detection systems be mandatory?, and the response from our readers seemed to focus on three separate positions:

1. Those who were strongly in favor of this type of automotive technology, arguing that safety is paramount.
2. Those focused on the privacy issues surrounding alcohol detection systems, complaining that the idea was not only too intrusive into their personal lives but also in contravention of already-existing laws governing personal property and conduct.
3. Those who believe the technology is too flawed for it to ever make its way to dealer showrooms.

While all of these points have their merits, the last point about technological limitations is really the most critical. Until a workable technology can be found, weighing the merits of a mandatory drunk-driving prevention system is academic. However, it seems that the technical challenges are closer than ever to being solved.