Breathalock - The end to drink driving!

[Printer]

I started a post a few days ago about what the parties would each do to curb drink driving for good in this country:

http://www.politics.ie/viewtopic.php?t=20125

Some of the suggestions were good but I think I have the answer. I did a 75 page project and marketing report on this for my finals in DCU this year.

Basically, "Breathalock" is a breathalyser which would be in your car connected to the ignition and engine, in order to start the car you must blow into the breathalyser and if you are under the limit then the car will start. It will not start if you are over the Irish legal limit.

To begin with the breathalock would only be fitted in cars of convicted drink drivers. It would be seen as a way for them to win their license back by paying for the device and having installed in their car. (this would cost approx 450EUR).

Eventually, if the pilot scheme worked with the convicted drink drivers, it would be introduced as legislation that every car registered in the country must have one.

I feel this a real and possible way to stop drink driving for good on Irish roads. It has already been introduced in the US and Sweden and has proved very successful.

A simple measure like this would practically completely eliminate all drink drivers from our roads (ONE THIRD of all road deaths are caused by drink driving!!!). It would also allow Gardaí to put their efforts into other means instead of having to patrol pub car parks after closing.

FAQ's:
1. How long would it take to do every time?
Approx 4 second breath, followed by 5 second reading time. Less than 10 second in total.

2. What if it wasnt reading my alcohol content properly?
Everything would be in place to ensure that the breathalyser is as close to 100% accuracy at all times. If it doesnt work, your car will not start and you will have to get it fixed - just like any other part of the engine.

3. Couldnt you just get someone else to breath in it for you?
Yes, theoretically you could but anyone who will breath into someone elses breathalyser and allow the person who is drunk to drive home has some serious moral issues.

4. What about foreign cars that come to Ireland?
If the car is registered in Ireland and is under Irish car tax it must have a breathalyser fitted. The idea would be to push it european wide as soon as possible.

5. What about for the people who dont drink?
Unfortunately you would also have to get a breathalock fitted to your car whether you drink or not. People who drive ultra carefully still have to wear a seatbelt!

The idea is that it would be another safety feature on the car, like a seatbelt, and it wouldnt take long to do.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. The thing that gets most people on this is the "hassle" of having to blow into a tube in your car every time you start it!!! Personally, I think that is a typically lazy response since it will only take 10 seconds to complete the cycle.

[TradCat]

Has this "Breathalock" been invented? Or are you calling for its invention?

[Kf]

Thats a grand idea. Maybe worth a fortune also.

[EvotingMachine0197]

So would this be an add-on unit or an input to the engine mamagement unit which already has the embedded software to deal with it.

I suspect a bypass could be easy. have you considered this?

[Pal]

Hmmmm the weak point in this plan is............

WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TRYING TO MICROMANAGE EVERY ASPECT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES ?

[Riadach]

Wasn't it invented by that lunatic who crashed into rte buildings, and interrupted pat kenny on the lls one night?

[Printer]

It has already been manufactured in Canada and is in use in the US. However, the one we came up with uses an existing Irish breathalyser by Saferdrive and incorporates it into the car. It is basically the same idea as the one in use in America but with some notable difference.

In the US drivers are asked at random intervals to breath again into the breathalyser even while they are driving. We assumed this maybe because some people in the US drink while they drive. We thought this was unnecessary for the Irish model and so adopted a one time breath sample before you turn the ignition.

[Binx]

It is definitely the most constructive workable method i've heard so far. I can't see it being too popular though. Given the strong publican element in our dail.

[EvotingMachine0197]

Wasn't it invented by that lunatic who crashed into rte buildings, and interrupted pat kenny on the lls one night?

Nah. Stokes? idea was GPS based, to track the vector of a vehicle and warn of potential conflicts. Works quite well for aircraft..but cars ?? Feckin' looper.

[Printer]

Initially it would be an add on unit to the car, installed by technicians in garages around the country. After it becomes legislation the hope would be to get car manufacturers to fit them to the car in the manufacturing process. This presents another marketing opp for the actual car companies too.

Maybe it could be bypassed but we think we could make them tamperproof (like a speedometer). If they are tampered with in anyway the car simply would not start. I dont know the exact ins and outs of car engines but since it is already in the US we're sure it could be made to be tamperproof.

Plus, why would you go to the trouble of all that instead of just breathing into the tube.