Nissan Shows Off New Anti-Drunk Driving Technology

Drinking and driving is no small matter. Alcohol-related fatalities are a seriousissue on roads around the world and automakers are beginning to take the initiative in order to prevent more from happening.

Saab has been in the news over the past few years for its AlcoKey system, which uses a keyfob-mounted breathalyzer linked to the car's ignition system to check for breath alcohol levels. Now, Nissan is taking anti-drunk driving technology to the next level with a new concept vehicle that integrates various advanced sensors inside the vehicle.

Similar to the Lexus anti-fatigue system on the European and Japanese-market LS luxury sedan, Nissan's anti-drunk driving system uses a camera that is aimed at the driver's face and monitors the eyes, scanning for blinking patterns and drowsiness - symptoms of intoxication. If the sensors detect a driver that's ready to nod off behind the wheel, a digitized voice projected through the car's sound system states a warningmessage and displays a written warning on the car's LCD display. If the driver chooses to ignore the warning, the driver's seatbelt will tug to get his or her attention.

Besides using the camera, Nissan's system also features different methods to detect impaired driving. The first is a sensor in the shift knob that detects perspiration of the driver's hands, and has the ability to shut the car down before it's even in motion. There are also sensors placed throughout the cabin, in the front driver's and passenger's seat, by the integrated speakers, as well as on the parcel shelf for the rear seats that measure the alcohol levels in the car. Finally, the system uses the car's on-board sensors for steering and braking in order to monitor erratic driving behavior, such as swerving and changing lanes without signaling, using existing hardware from the lane departure warning system. If any of these individual features detect alcohol,the LCD display, a verbal warning and then the tug of the seatbelts will be triggered.

Just like radar cruise control or stability control, limitations do exist with the drunk driving monitor system. For instance, if the car detects that the driver is intoxicated while the vehicle is in motion, it can merely warn the driver, but cannot force the driver to pull over or shut it down while on the move.

These technologies might not be the end-all solution to drunk driving, but at least this concept, as well as Saab's AlcoKey system, demonstrates that automakers are intent on helping to find a solution to minimize alcohol related accidents. The system's other advantages would be for fleet use (company and rental cars), not to mention discounts for personal automotive insurance.

Nissan chose to debut these anti-drunk driving features on its flagship vehicle, the Fuga, which is sold here as the Infiniti M. The Japanese automaker hasn't made any plans to put a system like this into any production car as of yet, but we could see such systems becoming reality in the not too distant future.