Volvo install tech to track drink drivers – car will slow down if you show drinking signs

Volvo will install in-car technology alongside a series of vital sensors which will detect movements inside the car. The technology will register if a driver has taken their eyes off the road for too long and could be at risk.

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A series of warning signals will then be issued which must be deactivated within seconds by the road user.

The warning signals are provided by Volvo’s new On Call technology which will wait to see if the messages are acted upon by motorists before activating an emergency mode.

If the warnings are not followed or the bad driving continues Volvo’s technology will automatically slow down and stop the car in a safe area to prevent the risk of a car crash.

The technology will also be activated if a driver closes their eyes, does not keep hold of the steering wheel or is thought to be driving dangerously such as weaving between lanes.

The On-Call technology can even reach out for further help if there is concern over the wellbeing of a road user.

The technology is expected to be introduced into all-new Volvo vehicles from early this year.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, a Volvo Car UK spokesperson said: “Safety has been in Volvo’s DNA since our founding in 1927.

“We have a long track record of introducing world-first safety innovations such as the three-point safety belt more than 60 years ago.

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“We are constantly striving to reduce the number of serious injuries or deaths on our roads, and tackling driver intoxication and distraction is a crucial next step.”
 
Volvo has launched an ambition to eliminate road deaths in all their vehicles and has targeted drink driving and distracted motorists as the way to achieve this.

In March, the manufacturer announced they will limit their car’s top speed on vehicles to just 112mph from 2021 to cut down the risk of speeding offences.

The group says speeding issues, drink driving and distractions are gaps in their safety vision and have been addressed with the new upgrades.

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According to data from the Department for Transport, drink-drive fatalities have reached their highest rate in almost a decade.

Data released in July revealed there were 270 fatal car crashes in 2017 where at least one person was over the drink-drive limit.

In total over 320,000 roadside breathalyser tests were carried out by police officers in 2017 but just over 70,000 are caught breaking the law each year.

DVLA figures obtained from road safety charity Brake revealed more than 5,000 motorists have been caught drink-driving on more than one occasion over the past four years.

A total of 4,879 motorists were caught twice over the period as 275 were hit with three offences.

Data from the National Highways Traffic Safety Administrator (NHTSA), the motoring safety body in the United States, revealed almost 30 percent of road fatalities involved drink-drivers.

Trent Victor, Professor of Driver Behaviour at Volvo Cars said: “There are many accidents that occur as a result of intoxicated drivers.

“Some people still believe that they can drive after having had a drink, and that this will not affect their capabilities. We want to ensure that people are not put in danger as a result of intoxication.

Volvo says the team is using the new technology to start a discussion on whether manufacturers have the right to install technology that changes the behaviour of motorists.

Volvo claims the group’s new technological advancements show how manufacturers can take responsibility for reducing deaths in their vehicles. 

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