It is a common problem that nations around the world have been trying to solve for decades so that they may ensure the safety of their citizens on the streets, however, drunk driving is not a problem that comes with an easy answer.

Trying to find a loop hole in the problem, Toyota seems to be on a quest to find the seemingly unsolvable answer. In fact, they just might be on to something. The car company plans to develop a safety system that will be able to detect an excessive amount of alcohol in a driver’s blood stream. If alcohol is indeed present, then the system will shut down the driver’s vehicle.

In theory, this sounds like a terrific idea, all problems solved and no more drunk driving right? The Question is, who will actually purchase this equipment? It more than likely will not be the person that goes to the bar every Friday night just so they can return home at the early hours of the morning. Consumers know what their lifestyles include and if it involves excessive drinking then they are not going to be the ones purchasing this system for their car.

Drunk driving continues to be one of the leading causes of death in America. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, every 31 minutes someone is killed in an alcohol related accident and every 2 minutes someone is injured in an alcohol related car crash. At least Toyota is making an effort to hopefully decrease the amount of fatalities due to drunk driving.

Still a work in progress and with many kinks to be worked out, the system is planned to be able to detect high levels of alcohol in the driver’s sweat on the steering wheel. Not only coming to a stop when detecting excessive alcohol levels, the “smart system” also stops when it detects abnormal steering. Another device inserted in the car with this package will be a small camera that monitors the driver’s pupils. If the camera is able to notice any change or dilating of the eyes, it will bring the car to a gradual stop.

Toyota seems to be going to extreme measures to get drunk drivers off the highway, and by using advanced technology, they just might be able to find a solution to this problem.

With such great thought and design, the next step needs to be how the right consumers are going so purchase this product. Logically, Toyota should merge with other manufacturers and insert these devices into other vehicles.



There are many innocent lives taken each day, someone’s mother, father, sister, or brother due to drunk driving and until an easy answer is laid out in front of us, this will be a problem that is going to continually haunt many families. As companies such as Toyota work to cushion and aid its recurrences, we become a step closer to seeing fewer drunk drivers and safer roads for our communities.