Unveiling a new driver-monitoring safety feature at the Consumer Electronics Show – or CES 2024 – in Las Vegas, Magna International presented a passive system designed to help prevent drunk driving, which at this point is simply called its “impaired driving prevention technology.”
The drunk driving prevention tech will use multiple methods to keep an eye on the driver, with visual cameras and infrared sensors capable of breath analysis both playing a role.
According to Magna, infrared sensors mounted in the steering column measure alcohol and carbon dioxide levels in the driver’s breath. These sensors will use the data to determine if the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration has reached 0.08 percent (or 0.05 percent in Utah), indicating that they are legally intoxicated.
Meanwhile, inward-facing cameras watch the driver, monitoring their behavior for signs of drowsiness, inattention, or dilation of the pupils that may also be indicators of drunk driving. The company claims that the multi-sensor approach “determines if drivers are ‘fit to drive’ in a fast, reliable and affordable way.”
Magna’s president of electronics Bill Snider says “our team is focused on delivering active safety innovations that help reduce accidents and fatalities,” and that the new technology represents “a significant step forward in making the roads safer for all who share them.” Magna International is a major car parts manufacturer producing components for a wide range of automakers, including General Motors.
The National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) has called for the inclusion of drunk driving prevention technology on new vehicles to help reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes and deaths on American roads. Additionally, the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that the NHTSA prepare a rule by November 2024 mandating this technology for new vehicles. The new rule is expected to go into effect in two to three years, or in 2026 or 2027.
GM is already working with the authorities as it develops its own technology, the “Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety” system. This system uses breath detection and touch to prevent impaired driving, though the breath sensors are expected to be available first. Its autonomous driving subsidiary Cruise also partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, with autonomous vehicles seen as a solution to drunk driving.
A 2022 study indicated drivers of GM pickup models, including the popular GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado, are among the most frequent recipients of DUIs. Seven of the 10 vehicle models whose drivers rack up the most DUIs are pickup trucks, with four of those produced by The General.
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Comments
Sad that we actually need this. Gonna have AI driving for us full time before we know it.
How do I delete this? Lane keep assist has almost killed me twice in rental cars. This will absolutely have false triggers and cause wrecks and havoc. So far autonomous driving tech has proven highly deadly. Just stop and make good cars.
on any GM vehicle 2015-2024 lane assist will remain OFF until turned back on. It has memory so it will stay off with engine restart. if for some reason it keeps coming back on, hold button for 3 seconds. some systems like traction control have soft off and hard off. soft off is press, hard off is hold for a bit. if it still doesnt stay off, your system is borked.
Auto engine start stop requires a 3rd party harness to “automatically” force it off each power cycle. that feature is a parasite and will always auto turn back on.
hope that helps.
I can turn off the driver assist, but that also turns off the backup grid lines. I don’t drink, but some of the newer technology is more harm than good.
Will it know if you are wearing a mask? Hmmmmm
Or just used Listerine?
If it includes detection of impaired use caused by substances other than alcohol then ok. If not then I think it should and not target just one group of impaired drivers. Maybe include having a cell phone at your ear too.
Second question is what is the vehicle going to do if it detects something while in motion.
.05 blood alcohol level in Utah is considered DUI. New state tourism motto: “Come here for vacation, leave on probation!”
Would be simpler with the driver’s assist that they already have—5 nudges in one mile and car tells you to park it and sleep it off.
Is this considered “Invasion of Privacy”? What about false readings? “Really officer I’m not drunk!” or calling 911 because the car says you are drunk, and you are not plus you need to get to your job so you can continue earning a living but can’t because the car won’t let you. Imagine the jokes: My car wouldn’t let me go to work today. LOL
F**K THESE PEOPLE.
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In a decade Americans will be as beaten down as they were in the USSR.