Volkswagen and Subaru want to help reduce drunk driving with variations of a system that requires the driver to perform a breathalyzer test before their vehicle will start to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol. VW’s new patent application was filed with the European Patent Office and Subaru’s patent was registered with the German Patent and Trademark Office.
Systems that limit vehicle functionality are already commonplace, with GM’s Teen Driver function coming to mind with its speed alerts, volume limits, and in-car report cards for teenage drivers. But VW wants to take this a step further.
How The System Works
VW’s system is fairly simple, but fool-proofed against cheating. The main component is a breath-testing device that the driver must use, allowing the system to determine the driver’s blood-alcohol limit. If it’s below the permissible threshold, the system sends a signal to the car to allow the vehicle to be started and driven. There are sensors to ensure the driver is present in the vehicle and the breathalyzer properly connected. Unless the conditions are met, the vehicle won’t start.
VW doesn’t explicitly state where the device will be installed, but Subaru’s similar system is on the driver’s door, where they can easily blow into the device while seated in the vehicle. Subaru’s system is, furthermore, equipped with a blower to adapt the alcohol sensor’s temperature for more efficient operation, making its implementation unique.
Implementation
Both of these systems can be fitted to a vehicle as standard equipment, but VW says it should be easy to retrofit, so courts can order its fitment to rehabilitate drivers that have been convicted of DUI offences as a condition to be allowed back behind the wheel. Subaru has not stated whether its system can be retrofitted to existing vehicles.
Uses And Advantages
Such a system has various benefits:
- Serves as a tool to help rehabilitate drunk drivers
- Improves road safety by keeping drunk drivers from driving
- Helps fleet managers prevent drunk driving with company vehicles
While it’s unlikely that it will be widely adopted as standard equipment unless federally mandated, such systems could be useful tools for courts to manage and regulate DUI driver rehabilitation, and for companies to reduce risk and vehicle abuse.
