OPPAMA, Japan (Reuters) —Beer-breaths beware.

A new concept car with breathalyser-like detection systems may provide even greater traction for Japanese efforts to keep impaired drivers off the road.

Nissan’s alcohol-detection sensors check odor, sweat and driver awareness, issuing a voice alert from the navigation system and locking up the ignition if necessary.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/08/06/nissan.alchol.detection.reut/index.html?eref=rss_tech

I say good job.  It’s not very feasible for the States where there is limited public transit in most areas, but no one in Japan has a reasonable excuse for driving drunk. 

Saw that yesterday. It’s fairly likely to see this deployed for real, since they’ve gone to so much trouble to make a working prototype. The only downside is that this may be triggered by drunk passengers, despite a designated driver.

Racer X - 06 August 2007 03:38 PM

It’s not very feasible for the States where there is limited public transit in most areas, but no one in Japan has a reasonable excuse for driving drunk. 

There is NEVER an excuse for drunk driving, no matter what country you live in and/or how deplorable its public transportation system (or lack there of) is.  I consider myself blessed for having gotten away with it as many times as I did, but have and had friends who weren’t so lucky.  Walk, call a cab or drink in the safety of your own home.  It’s safer and cheaper.

Mad Dawg - 07 August 2007 12:09 PM

Racer X - 06 August 2007 03:38 PM

It’s not very feasible for the States where there is limited public transit in most areas, but no one in Japan has a reasonable excuse for driving drunk. 

There is NEVER an excuse for drunk driving, no matter what country you live in and/or how deplorable its public transportation system (or lack there of) is.  I consider myself blessed for having gotten away with it as many times as I did, but have and had friends who weren’t so lucky.  Walk, call a cab or drink in the safety of your own home.  It’s safer and cheaper.

True.  If you can’t get a ride home from the bar, then you need to drink some more so that you can pass out anywhere. ;)

Mad Dawg - 07 August 2007 12:09 PM

Racer X - 06 August 2007 03:38 PM

It’s not very feasible for the States where there is limited public transit in most areas, but no one in Japan has a reasonable excuse for driving drunk. 

There is NEVER an excuse for drunk driving, no matter what country you live in and/or how deplorable its public transportation system (or lack there of) is.  I consider myself blessed for having gotten away with it as many times as I did, but have and had friends who weren’t so lucky.  Walk, call a cab or drink in the safety of your own home.  It’s safer and cheaper.

Yes, I’m sure the police get tipped off when someone gets pulled over and says, “Oh my drunk! I’m NOT God!!”