Volvo Launches New Technology to Combat DUI Accidents

Volvo has developed 'Alcoguard', which uses fuel-cell technology to accurately read a person's blood alcohol level. In order to start a vehicle, the driver must blow into a wireless hand-held unit.

Volvo Launches New Technology to Combat DUI Accidents Host: One in three fatal accidents in Europe today are alcohol related. Quite clearly, if we could reduce drinking and driving in combination with lower speeds and the more widespread use of safety belts, then the number of fatal accidents all over the world could be radically reduced. This is the prime reason why Volvo Cars now launches AlcoGuard. Volvo’s integrated alcohol lock is based on a wireless hand unit but directly and reliably tells you whether or not you may drive. If you get a green light you’re okay. David Nilson: When you go into the car it asks you to take a test. So you blow in to the unit and the result is on lights. And if you don’t have any alcohol in your blood you're able to start the car and if you have a red result with alcohol you are not able to start it. Host: At Volvo Cars this has been a prioritized project. Ingrid Skogsmo: As statistics shows that drunk driving is a major challenge in road safety and for Volvo it is a natural step to develop a user-friendly alcohol interlock so that we can contribute to increased road safety. Host: Despite the fact that the police in many countries have increased alcohol controls considerably in recent years, there are still far too many drivers who don’t take these problems seriously and just take a chance. Susan Ferguson: Even though people seem to be against drinking and driving many people still do. And I think the reason people still drink and drive is because they can get away with it. There are just not enough police officers to catch every drunk driver. And they know that they can probably drive every weekend for more than a year without being caught. Host: Alcohol related traffic accidents today are a global problem that must be fought with all available means. Volvo’s AlcoGuard is an excellent contribution to this fight. Anders Lund: We think it’s very important in the US as well to explore the kind of technology we can put into vehicles that will prevent people from driving when they're drunk. The fact is we still lose an awful lot of people in motor vehicle crashes from alcohol impaired driving. And we estimate that if we could just keep the amount of alcohol people are drinking below the legal limit in the US 0.8, we could literally save more than 8000 lives each year. This is a tremendous advantage. Host: But to achieve a change requires more than just a new technique. It also requires a change in attitude towards drinking and driving. Volvo believes that the new alcohol lock will initially attract authorities and companies. Susan Ferguson: The only way to eliminate drunk driving is if vehicles have technology that can measure if you have alcohol in your blood, how much and if you're over the limit will not allow you to start your vehicle. And I think that obviously vehicle manufacturers are very important in this effort.