Toyota to Develop Alcohol Detection System

Washington DC January 3, 2007; The AIADA newsletter reported that according to a leaked news report by Japan's Asahi Shimbun paper, Toyota is developing a fail-safe system for cars that automatically shuts the vehicle down if sensors pick up signs of excessive alcohol consumption.

The system can detect abnormal steering and whether the driver's pupils are not in focus; sweat sensors in the driving wheel can determine the level of alcohol in the driver's bloodstream.

If any of these symptoms of drunk driving are detecting the car will not turn on or will slow to a halt. The report said that Toyota hopes to equip cars with the system by the end of 2009.

Nissan has already been experimenting with breathalyzer-like devices that could detect if a driver is drunk.