I hope this idea pans out

[Funk]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070103/...runken_driving

I hope nearly all cars are outfitted with this technology or similar technology soon.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

Seems useful, but it also seems like it would make driving like a maniac impossible.

Which, if you've never done so, is highly entertaining.

[Funk]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

I see enough maniac drivers in one day. I don't need to look in the rear view mirror and see one, too.

[IRC]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

They already have these things.

[Funk]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

Not on the steering wheel, though.

Of course, thinking about it a little: couldn't you just get past it by wearing gloves?

[Kire]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

My bf's mom was killed by a go going 85 up to a red stoplight, was tested to be entirely clean, and he said he was "posessed by demons." Is there a car testing system for that?

[Funk]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

Not unless a dashboard Buddy Christ can point out evil drivers.

[Vonwert]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

How about just put those blow machines that are already made for drunks in every car. Granted they need to make them work everytime.

[The Toecutter]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

Of course, thinking about it a little: couldn't you just get past it by wearing gloves?

Yes. Which is why these ideas are merely more extraneous cost, complexity, and weight to the vehicle. If the system breaks, will it shut your car off too until you get it repaired?

[thetruecoolness]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

Plus I'm not sure if shutting off your car in the middle of driving if you start getting a bit erratic is the best course of action. Seems that would cause more accidents, as pretty much everyone is always following too close. So really there is no fool proof way to guarantee drunks won't be on the road. With breathalyzers they could always get a sober friend to breathe into to start their car, and would be a bit hazardous to require breathing into the whole trip.

Though on the sweat thing they could make it so that it must detect some form of sweat to start, but then what about people who put those cloth wheel covers on. For the pupil device I sure hope it can tell the difference between a focused pupil and one in which the sun is shining right into, or oncoming bright lights which will cause it to dilate, and what about people with sunglasses on.

So nice idea but I don't think it would be practical, and certainly would not be fail-safe as they put it. Pretty sure having a breathalyser would be just as effective and not as intrusive.

[Alzar]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

i kind of think this is a stupid idea

maybe a built in breathalyzer or something to warn you that you are breaking the law and if you get pulled over you should panic

or something i dunno

shut up

[Shard]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

The system could also kick in if the sensors detect abnormal steering, ...

This eliminates trying to determine the driver's state of mind entirely, whether he's drunk, senile, having a seizure or whatever. Better to focus on trying to curb the dangerous result over every technicality that could produce it.

I think having the car shut down by itself regardless of where it's at, might be a shade on the dangerous side...especially if the driver has been getting progressively more drunk and the system activates while he's on the highway.

If the system can be designed to shut the car down, why not design it to compensate for abnormal steering or excessive speed? There are already traction control devices on cars that adjust for poor road conditions, this and a rev limiter don't seem like such a stretch.

[irate giraffe]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

they should just place video recorders in ever car through which big brother can watch us all.

[JPS]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

This has got to be the dumbest idea I've ever heard of, all of those features can easily be overrode, and more seriously, most of them pose a serious risk, the thing about shutting down the car when it detects abnormal steering is stupid, what if I'm swerving to miss a dog crossing the road or a deer? Also exactly how does that camera measure what your pupils look like, you'll be driving down the road and all of a sudden the car shuts off...come on now, the car will slow down and stop...so how do you get it started again? This idea is a disaster waiting to happen, I'll be going down the interstate at 65 and hit a car that is stopped in the middle of the interstate, then I'll get in trouble because some loser didn't have his eyes on the camera...

Toyota is well on their way on being removed from the #2 spot, also don't they think that drunk people will just avoid buying cars equipped with such devices? It will also cause people who don't drink to not buy it because they don't want to deal with the hassle of it shutting off for no reason.

[Sampson]

Re: I hope this idea pans out

Lets just install computers in all cars that drive them around for us.