Nissan concept car detects drink-drivers

03 August 2007

System detects alcohol from driver's palm
Eye sensors monitor drowsiness
No date for technology to go into production

Nissan has developed a new system that detects when a driver may be drunk

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Nissan has built a concept car that senses a driver's sobriety through the use of alcohol odour sensors, facial monitoring and driving behaviour detectors.

The alcohol odour sensor is built into the gearknob. It detects alcohol through sweat from the driver's palm and, when it exceeds a pre-determined threshold, the car will be immobilised.

In addition, alcohol sensors are built into the driver and passenger seats. They monitor the air inside the car and issue a voice alert if too much alcohol is detected.

The facial monitoring system, which would also detect a driver falling asleep at the wheel, is controlled by a dash-mounted camera.

The camera measures the driver's consciousness by determining the position of his or her eyelids and, when it detects drowsiness, a voice alert sounds and the seatbelt is tightened to attract attention. A similar system is already used on the Lexus LS 600.

In addition, driving behaviour detectors sense if the vehicle is drifting in and out of lanes and, similarly to many systems already available, it will sound a warning and automatically tighten the driver's seatbelt.

Nissan hasn't set a date for when these systems will be introduced on its model range.

It has also announced it will push ahead with evaluating an immobiliser that requires drivers to take a breath test before a car will start.

Volvo is known to be investigating similar technology.