Low alcohol-tolerance vehicles

[Philip]

Is the technology currently in place to potentially build road vehicles which require an alcohol test and subsequent reading of (for example) no more than 2 units to be present in the person's bloodstream, before being able to start the vehicle? If the technology is there, do you think it is something which should be trialled at least?

It would basically involve the measurement being electronically transferred from the breathing test equipment to the ECU which would then produce a code which either allows the engine to start or not to start. The system would be open to abuse, the main thing being drunk people getting a sobre friend to take the test but then driving the car themselves, but it should at least reduce the amount of drink-driving considerably.

 

[M&NEJ]

No! Too much room for it to mal-function when you are sober and might have a genuine need to get going! In my opinion cars try to be far too clever as it is.

 

[Philip]

No! Too much room for it to mal-function when you are sober and might have a genuine need to get going! In my opinion cars try to be far too clever as it is.

The potential for mal-function would depend on the quality of the design though surely? There isn't any genuine need to drive off if the person is too drunk to be safely in control of the vehicle. Unfortunately that's the risk and responsibility people take if they 'have a session'.

 

[GusB]

Is the technology currently in place to potentially build road vehicles which require an alcohol test and subsequent reading of (for example) no more than 2 units to be present in the person's bloodstream, before being able to start the vehicle? If the technology is there, do you think it is something which should be trialled at least?

It would basically involve the measurement being electronically transferred from the breathing test equipment to the ECU which would then produce a code which either allows the engine to start or not to start. The system would be open to abuse, the main thing being drunk people getting a sobre friend to take the test but then driving the car themselves, but it should at least reduce the amount of drink-driving considerably.

The technology certainly exists and is used by some commercial vehicle operators. Alcolock is one such company and others are available.

 

[M&NEJ]

The potential for mal-function would depend on the quality of the design though surely? There isn't any genuine need to drive off if the person is too drunk to be safely in control of the vehicle. Unfortunately that's the risk and responsibility people take if they 'have a session'.

I think there have been rare instances in the past of drivers "over the limit" being stopped by the police and / or arguing in court when prosecuted, but having made the decision to drive because of some other emergency.

In principle this might be a good idea but it should warn the driver, not lock out the car ignition. There will be instances when the instrumentation mal-functions, and there will be rare occasions where someone makes their own decision to drive anyway if over the limit but faced with a sudden emergency. I think the device should warn the driver of the situation and transmit a result to an appropriate authority to investigate if it wishes.

 

[scrapy]

Surely with the cost of these systems (yes they will come down a bit with mass use) any imposition should be only on those who have previously committed offences. I'd object to having to pay for such a system to be installed and calibrated. Drug driving is now more common than drink driving, yet tests for this take several minutes to come back, should this also be tested when it's a bigger problem?

Maybe we should also ensure that anyone wishing to drive has their sleep monitored by a phone app and if they havent had sufficient sleep their car won't start? (This is supposed to be as dangerous as drink driving) Or we could link cars to the insurance and MOT databases to ensure they won't start if not insured or MOT'd and we could also ensure that someone scans their driving licence to ensure they have one and are no banned, and has their face checked by facial recognition to ensure that they are the licence holder? We could even get the facial recognition detector to ensure they put their glasses on if required as a condition of their licence. We could also get motorists to provide a blood and urine sample which could be analysed by the car to check the driver has not possibly developed any condition they would need to notify the DVLA of. The technology exists for all those things, where do we draw the line?

 

[dangie]

Maybe have untamperable lights on the outside of the car. A green light if the driver is below the limit, a different colour if above the limit. At least it wouldn’t inhibit the car but would show other users you’re as pi**ed as a fart…..

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 May 2023 ==

Maybe we should also ensure that anyone wishing to drive has their sleep monitored by a phone app and if they havent had sufficient sleep their car won't start? (This is supposed to be as dangerous as drink driving).

There’s always a catch. Where does night working shift work fit into this? I did 40 years of shift work and many times I drove home without remembering anything about the journey. Having said that I don’t recall any of my workmates being involved in an accident after a night shift. It’s a difficult one.

 

[D821]

Maybe have untamperable lights on the outside of the car. A green light if the driver is below the limit, a different colour if above the limit. At least it wouldn’t inhibit the car but would show other users you’re as pi**ed as a fart…..

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 May 2023 ==


There’s always a catch. Where does night working shift work fit into this? I did 40 years of shift work and many times I drove home without remembering anything about the journey. Having said that I don’t recall any of my workmates being involved in an accident after a night shift. It’s a difficult one.

I was reading the other day that there might be a test developed within the next 2 years that could be used for prosecuting drivers who cause accidents whilst driving tired.

 

[ComUtoR]

Just get someone else to start the car

 

[66701GBRF]

and there will be rare occasions where someone makes their own decision to drive anyway if over the limit but faced with a sudden emergency.

Such as? Over the years, out of all those that have been caught DD how many had a genuine "sudden emergency"?

Even IF plausible, it must be highly improbable and should not be used to hold back developments of reducing proven high DD statistics.

 

[dgl]

As I understand the technology is in widespread use in America, some states requiring it to be fitted to cars of people who have been done for drink driving.

 

[johncrossley]

You often coach drivers do a breathalyser test when changing drivers. One time a driver forgot his mouthpiece for the device and there was an hour delay while they got someone to drive to the coach with it.

 

[Roger1973]

The technology certainly exists and is used by some commercial vehicle operators. Alcolock is one such company and others are available.

You often coach drivers do a breathalyser test when changing drivers. One time a driver forgot his mouthpiece for the device and there was an hour delay while they got someone to drive to the coach with it.

Yes, I believe most National Express coaches have it fitted. It's been around for a few years at least.

There was a reported problem with a football team's coach in September 2020 because a sanitiser spray (during covid) used on the coach had activated it and the coach couldn't be started (BBC article here)