Breathalyzer cars

By: Matthew Manross

We all know that drunk driving is a huge problem in the United States. We've all been told that drinking and driving is bad, but people still continue to drive drunk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "Every two minutes, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash". In 2014, 9,967 people died in drunk driving related crashes. But what if there was a device that would not start the car if the persons blood alcohol content (BAC) is too high?

Today there are some devices that can already do this. This device is called a ignition interlock device or IID for short. The IID will force the driver to take a breathalyzer test before starting the car. If the person fails the test, the car will not start. Of course there is many problems with this device. If the device breaks, the car will not start. This also requires time, and for people who are in a rush to get somewhere, time is important.

However, as technology advances, more efficient ways of determining a BAC) are being created. For example, a steering wheel is being developed that can determine a persons BAC just by touching the steering wheel. This would stop the car from turning on if it detects a dangerous level. This method would be way more efficient than having to breathe into a breathalyzer before starting your car.


Works Cited

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Traffic Safety Facts 2014: Alcohol-Impaired Driving.” Washington DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2016. 

"MADD - Drunk Driving Statistics." MADD - Drunk Driving Statistics. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.

"Congresswoman Proposes A Breathalyzer Be Placed On Every New Car." The Mental Recession. 2015. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.