NationStates Jolt Archive

Japan's Nissan to develop anti-drunk driving cars

Wed Sep 13, 2:00 PM ET

Nissan Motor said it is developing cars that will not start if the driver is intoxicated as Japan steps up action against drunk driving.

Nissan said it is considering installing a straw-like tube on the driver's seat which the driver would have to blow into to start the car. The engine would not start if the machine shows the driver is intoxicated.

Nissan is also studying a device that requires drivers to enter personal identification numbers of many digits, which may be a difficult task if they are drunk, Nissan Motor Corp. spokeswoman Ikue Matsuura said.

"No specifics have been decided yet but we are considering developing models that would prevent car accidents, including drunk driving," she said.

The move comes amid a growing movement in Japan against drunk driving after an intoxicated driver killed three children in the southwestern city of Fukuoka.

Following the incident, 21 local governments out of the nation's 47 prefectures and 15 major cities are considering tougher penalties on drunk driving, said a survey by the Sankei Shimbun newspaper published Wednesday.

Fukuoka Mayor Hirotaro Yamazaki has said the city is considering heavier punishments for its employees if they drive after drinking, even if they are not arrested.

The government of Kanagawa prefecture, bordering Tokyo, has already decided to dismiss employees who drink and drive or who ride in cars knowing the driver is drunk.

Many urban Japanese can avoid drunk driving as major cities have well-developed public transportation systems, on which intoxicated passengers are a common sight at night.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/japanautoaccident

Japan's drunk driving laws are very strict (the BAC is zero, and if you let someone you know who has had a drink drive, you are charged as an accessory), but this is a little...

Well, what do you think, should this be coming to where you live?

"Nissan said it is considering installing a straw-like tube on the driver's seat which the driver would have to blow into to start the car. The engine would not start if the machine shows the driver is intoxicated."

I think that's a fantastic idea. What's wrong with it?

thats really cool. i think traffic laws should be very strict. buses should be promoted. stop as many people from driving as possible.

I think that's a fantastic idea. What's wrong with it?
Blowing into a tube every time you want your car to start?

This a little ridiculous. I don't want to blow my car everytime I want to drive it. I think those who have been convicted of driving under the influence should be forced to get these cars to reduce the number of repeat offenders. However, to make everyone do this is stupid.

I have enough trouble remembering my chip and pin number, so entering a 'code of many digits' would be a nightmare

Blowing into a tube every time you want your car to start?

Meh, big deal. I wonder if people whinged when they first installed key-ignition in cars.

This a little ridiculous. I don't want to blow my car everytime I want to drive it. I think those who have been convicted of driving under the influence should be forced to get these cars to reduce the number of repeat offenders. However, to make everyone do this is stupid.

Because everyone knows you can't kill anyone by driving drunk until you've been convicted multiple times.

Because everyone knows you can't kill anyone by driving drunk until you've been convicted multiple times.

My point is that it will incovenience a ton of people who don't even drink in an attempt to discourage drunk driving. As if you couldn't pull some random guy off the street and give him a dollar to blow into your car straw.

They're already used for repeat offender drink drivers in many countries, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see them introduced more widely.

My point is that it will incovenience a ton of people who don't even drink in an attempt to discourage drunk driving. As if you couldn't pull some random guy off the street and give him a dollar to blow into your car straw.

If it helps deter drink driving in any way it must be a good thing

Meh, big deal. I wonder if people whinged when they first installed key-ignition in cars.

No, they probably went "whoopee", becuase before then, you had to get your ass out and crank the damn thing.

My point is that it will incovenience a ton of people who don't even drink in an attempt to discourage drunk driving. As if you couldn't pull some random guy off the street and give him a dollar to blow into your car straw.

Hardly an inconvenience - blow into a straw, presumably in your dashboard. Damn. That five seconds is really gonna throw my schedule - I'll have to get up a good thirty seconds earlier to compensate for that.

Damn right it shouldn't happen! Who cares about all the deaths from drunk driving dammit?! My five seconds means more to me than all the drink-related deaths in the world! :rolleyes:

And if it's really so inconvenient what makes you think a guy off the street would do it? Even for a whole shiny dollar. Maybe you could bribe a homeless guy with alcohol? Seriously, a car is a big thing, and if they're fitting them with alcohol detectors, what's to stop them fitting them with DNA recognisers or somesuch?

what happens if due to a medical condition you cant blow into the straw?

or your on acid?

"Nissan said it is considering installing a straw-like tube on the driver's seat which the driver would have to blow into to start the car. The engine would not start if the machine shows the driver is intoxicated."

I think that's a fantastic idea. What's wrong with it?
Excessive Perfume or Deoderant has been known to give a false Breatherliser(SP) test.:)

Meh, big deal. I wonder if people whinged when they first installed key-ignition in cars.
Because, turning a crank at the front of your car was much easier?;)

A tube in the driver seat...I'm not going to sit on tube, and then blow into it.:eek:

what happens if due to a medical condition you cant blow into the straw?Then you suck.or your on acid?Then you just imagine it's blowing you.

It's a good idea to try to limit drunk driving, but it would needlessly inconvenience people who abstain from drinking alcohol, since they don't drink and so won't drive drunk. So maybe just people who do drink alcohol ever should have something like this installed in their cars.

It's a good idea to try to limit drunk driving, but it would needlessly inconvenience people who abstain from drinking alcohol, since they don't drink and so won't drive drunk. So maybe just people who do drink alcohol ever should have something like this installed in their cars.

That may be, but how would you go about finding everyone who drinks at parties, and things where it is already there? So maybe the people who never drink may have to put a tube up there butt and blow.

"Nissan said it is considering installing a straw-like tube on the driver's seat which the driver would have to blow into to start the car. The engine would not start if the machine shows the driver is intoxicated."

I think that's a fantastic idea. What's wrong with it?

Not a thing...we already use it here in Wisconsin for people who have been convicted of drunk driving more than once.

That said, I would NOT want to see this become standard in every car. I will never be convinced that it is necessary to crack down on one driving distraction and not another.

So until they start installing cell-phone jammers in every car...

If I can remember how to dial a ten digit phone number to harrass my friends when I'm drunk, I'm sure I can remember my car's password. And I don't imagine it would be too hard, if you're at a party or a bar, to find someone who's below the legal limit to blow your car for you, especially if you buy them a drink as compensation.

If it helps deter drink driving in any way it must be a good thing

...You're absolutely right.

My new idea is to have a sniper on every rooftop. Each one will look around, and scope in on possibly drunk people. If they even look like their heading for a car, then they're going to take a round in the head...

And if a few (or many) undeserving people get wasted (a drunk guy who isn't driving... or a man with a limp), well, that's okay, because it deters drunk driving, so it must be a good thing!