Nissan Developing On-board breathalyser system to immobilize vehicle

TOKYO (July 30, 2007) -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced it will begin testing of a new technology to prevent drink-driving in cooperation with local prefectural authorities in Japan.

Nissan is actively engaged in developing a wide range of technologies to improve road safety through the prevention of drink-driving. In June, Nissan introduced a new message alert against drink-driving through its CARWINGS navigation system.

Nissan will test a new on-board breathalyser system that can detect the alcohol level on a driver’s breath. If the system detects the presence of alcohol above the specified level, the ignition will be disabled through an “interlock” mechanism.

The tests will be conducted in partnership with Kitakyushu city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Tochigi Prefectural Government and Kaminokawa town, as well as Atsugi city in Kanagawa Prefecture.

The system is installed on daily-operating vehicles where the drivers will monitor various factors such as functionality and alcohol-detection reliability. Nissan will use these test results to further its research and development in preventive drink-driving technology.

If alcohol concentration is below the specified level, the engine will start

Alcohol detection system

Globally, Nissan is committed to build safer vehicles equipped with advanced safety technologies. In Japan, the company’s safety vision is to halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.

Nissan is taking holistic approach towards safety that extends beyond the technology built into its vehicles. To achieve a “safe driving environment”, Nissan has embarked on the Intelligent Transport System Project (ITS) in Kanagawa Prefecture – aimed at helping to reduce road accidents via the analysis of traffic data collected from on-the-road vehicles and traffic beacons. In addition, Nissan is engaged in various road safety campaigns targeted at both adults and children, and continues to collaborate with partners from the government and private sectors.