As of: February 2, 2024, 5:08 a.m
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The number of people killed and injured in alcohol-related accidents is rising significantly again after a Corona low.
A new technology is intended to counteract this.
More than 10,000 lives could be saved every year in the USA alone by preventing drunk driving.
This is what the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
calculated.
In Germany, the police recorded a total of 16,807 alcohol-related accidents with personal injury in 2022 - and the trend is rising.
Effective countermeasures have been discussed for many years.
Supplier Magna has now presented a device that is intended to meet the future requirements of the approval authorities in the EU and the USA.
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Interface for integrating Alko-Locks will also be mandatory in new EU cars from mid-2024
There is an acute need for action for car manufacturers and their system suppliers.
In the USA, technologies to prevent drunk driving are to be required in new passenger cars by 2027 at the latest through the infrastructure law.
And the European Union will require an interface for the easy integration of so-called alcohol interlocks in new vehicles by July 2024.
According to
the German Electrical Engineering Commission (DKE),
the installation of a breath alcohol monitor is voluntary until further notice.
Alcohol tester for on the go
Driving under the influence of alcohol is not only dangerous, but can also be expensive.
If you are stopped by the police and your alcohol test exceeds the legally permitted levels, you could lose your driver's license in addition to a fine and points in Flensburg.
To be on the safe side as to whether you are still allowed to drive after a few glasses of wine or beer, it is worth taking a breathalyzer on the go
(promotional link)
.
This way you can easily determine before you start your journey whether you should leave the car behind on the way home.
This is how the technology of the new alcohol detector from Magna works
The new alcohol detector from Magna is based on a combination of cameras and infrared sensors.
In contrast to the Alko tester, which has been known from Volvo for years, into which you have to actively blow, it is a passive system: the still nameless electronic accessory works largely in secret.
The crucial component, an infrared-based sensor for determining the alcohol level in the driver's breath, is hidden at the top of the steering column.
After getting in and while the driver is buckling up their seatbelt, a tiny fan sucks in enough of their breathing air to be able to reliably determine the alcohol concentration.
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Camera ensures that the driver's alcohol level is measured
According to Magna, the obligatory interior camera ensures that the analyzed breeze is not contributed by the sober passenger (who can also face trouble in the event of an accident due to alcohol) instead of the drunk pilot.
This is also used when the prescribed alcohol limit is exceeded by looking for pupil signals typical of alcohol.
If the breath alcohol concentration is confirmed to be too high in both steps, the registration authorities believe that the vehicle should no longer be able to be started.
A fact that is causing quite a stir in the USA and is viewed by drivers in various Internet forums as an infringement on personal freedom.
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Alcohol testers in cars: In the USA, the presidential election could decide this
According to experts, whether the regulation will actually be implemented in the USA by 2027 also depends on the outcome of the presidential election.
If Donald Trump is re-elected, the Biden government's project could well be stopped again.
The specialist engineers at DKE, who played a key role in the submission to the EU, are convinced of the urgent need for a clear legal situation - simply for reasons of traffic safety: "In particular, the very often underestimated residual alcohol will certainly be uncovered," say the experts.
The mandatory breath alcohol test, especially for school bus drivers in the morning, means an increase in safety for their passengers and their worried parents.
Driving at high alcohol levels could be prevented in the future through clever technical solutions.
(Symbolic image) © Wirestock/Imago
Alcohol test: Mandatory in government vehicles in Sweden since 2003
Practical experience in countries such as Sweden shows that engine blocking is an effective means of preventing accidents when drunk.
Alcohol interlocks have been mandatory in government vehicles since 2003.
In tenders for cars, trucks and buses used by authorities, practically only manufacturers who have installed a permille brake are considered.
Drivers without a license after drunk driving can voluntarily have the device installed in order to get their license back more quickly.
There has also been an alcohol interlock law in Finland since 2019, Denmark, France, Belgium, Poland and Austria use “alcohol-sensitive immobilizers” for drivers who become suspicious.
They are usually combined with social psychological support.
“Studies from the USA and Sweden show that the relapse rate for driving under the influence of alcohol is falling significantly,” summarizes the German Electrical Engineering Commission.
(Rudolf Huber/SP-X)