| Chances are you or someone you know has been | | | | prevention devices. The company is currently working |
| involved in an alcohol related accident. Approximately | | | | on developing an on-board system for detecting drunk |
| one-third of Americans will find themselves in this | | | | drivers. The system performs a number of checks on |
| situation during their lifetimes. Therefore, prevention of | | | | the driver. A moisture sensor will detect the presence |
| drunk driving should be a critical concern for everyone. | | | | of alcohol in the sweat on the driver's palms. A face |
| Thankfully, many companies are heeding the call to | | | | monitoring camera detects whether the driver is |
| make the roads a safer place. There have been quite | | | | having trouble staying alert, and there is an air sensor |
| a few inventions that have come on the market | | | | installed that can identify the presence of alcohol. If any |
| recently to prevent those people under the influence | | | | of the sensors are tripped, the car will issue a voice |
| from taking the wheel. | | | | alert to the driver and the transmission will be locked. |
| An ignition interlock device is one such innovation. | | | | For repeat offenders, some states are using devices |
| These devices have become standard fare in many | | | | that enable constant monitoring of alcohol levels in the |
| states as a condition for probation with driving under | | | | body. Ankle monitors are the most common way to |
| the influence offenders. An ignition interlock device is a | | | | do this type of monitoring. These are also called |
| type of breathalyzer that is installed on a car's | | | | transdermal monitors. They work by measuring the |
| dashboard. The driver of the car must breathe into the | | | | level of alcohol in perspiration. The use of ankle |
| machine and to get a reading of blood alcohol level. If | | | | monitors can allow 24 hour supervision at a minimal |
| the level registers at an illegal amount, the ignition | | | | cost. Another plus to using these ankle monitors is that |
| interlock device will not allow the engine to be started. | | | | the testing is non-invasive and doesn't require any |
| Preventative measures are included with the | | | | participation on the part of the wearer. The devices |
| equipment that will allow it to discriminate between | | | | can be set to automatically send reports on alcohol |
| operators so that drivers can't switch places. The | | | | levels to whoever has the need to know. The hope is |
| accuracy of these devices is continuing to improve | | | | that these devices will be a deterrent to drunk driving |
| with updated versions. | | | | for repeat offenders. |
| Nissan is one of the frontrunners in developing | | | | |