A Unique Solution

“Drink, Drive, Go to Jail.” American society has been extremely clear on the immorality (not to mention recklessness) of drinking and driving. Countless campaigns and charities contribute to the prevention of drinking and driving, yet the cycle continues today as more deaths from DUI pile up. The reasons for drunk driving vary greatly. Some of it can be from upbringing; children with alcoholic parents are typically more likely to have problems with alcohol when they grow up. Teenagers can be caught up in “the wrong crowd” and can end up in bad situations similarly. Sometimes they seek it out to rebel. However, these are only a few of the many reasons that drunk driving happens, and the truth is that it can never be wholly eradicated. However, steps can be taken to prevent it from happening repeatedly.

The government cannot completely solve the issue of alcoholism; the disastrous experiment in prohibition in American history clearly demonstrates this. However, several new, useful technologies could help put another limiting factor for drunk drivers.

Already companies like Uber have given people an alternative to driving themselves around, and its convenience could greatly help the issue of drinking and driving. However, where the problem persists, a combination of several technologies could help prevent the problem directly.

The proposed technology would combine facial recognition, breathalyzers, and the average car to create a safety mechanism to prevent drinking and driving. The idea is quite obvious, so an example situation might be more illustrative.

In this example, a driver has been prosecuted with a DUI charge. The verdict is guilty, so the judge sentences the driver to the usual sentences plus six months with this new preventative measure. The breathalyzer would sit in the driver’s side of the vehicle and would be mounted and folded just to the left of the radio. A small camera would also be mounted on the left side against the frame of the car, just between the door and windshield. When the driver got into the car, they would take out the breathalyzer (attached by cord or tube to the mount it sits in) and blow into it while the facial recognition camera scanned them. The breathalyzer would only let the car start if the driver’s alcohol levels were sufficiently low. A thermometer installed in the breathalyzer could help ensure that the device was actually placed in the driver’s mouth. Furthermore, the facial recognition would continue scanning the driver; if the actual driver then tried to switch out with another person, the car would stop. Only the registered driver of the vehicle would be allowed to drive. This system would serve as a punishment (sort of like training wheels) for those convicted of DUI. In addition, the length of use for these devices would increase with number of convictions: six months for the first, one year for the second, and so on depending on what the regulations are.

While complex, this system has the potential to reduce subsequent DUIs and the frequency of the crime. It could also be sold privately for people determined to fix the problem, and it could be provided for charities to use as well. There are many possibilities, and through hard work and brainstorming, these devices could help save lives and make the roads safer for the next generation of drivers.