Concept Car to Showcase Anti Drunk-Driving Technology

    TOKYO, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (
 NSANY) has revealed a new concept car featuring multiple preventative
 features designed to reduce drunk-driving. The various technologies are
 designed to detect the driver's state of sobriety and to activate a range
 of preventive measures including immobilization of the vehicle.
     Alcohol Odor Sensors
     1) A hi-sensitivity alcohol odor sensor is built into the transmission
 shift knob, which is able to detect the presence of alcohol in the
 perspiration of the driver's palm as he or she attempts to start driving.
 When the alcohol-level detected is above the pre-determined threshold, the
 system automatically locks the transmission, immobilizing the car. A
 "drunk-driving" voice alert is also issued via the car navigation system.
     2) Additional alcohol odor sensors are also incorporated into the
 driver's and passenger seats to detect the presence of alcohol in the air
 inside the vehicle cabin. When alcohol is detected, the system issues both
 a voice alert and a message alert on the navigation system monitor.
     Facial Monitoring System
     A camera is mounted on the instrument cluster facing the driver to
 monitor the driver's face. The system is calibrated to monitor the driver's
 state of consciousness through their eyes. When the system detects signs of
 drowsiness, a voice and message alert is triggered via the navigation
 system. Additionally, a seat-belt mechanism is activated, which tightens
 around the driver to gain his or her immediate attention.
     Driving Behavior
     By constantly monitoring the operational behavior of the vehicle (e.g.
 sensing if the vehicle is drifting out of its driving lane), the system can
 identify signs of inattentiveness or distraction in the driver. When the
 system detects such behavior, voice and message alerts are issued via the
 navigation system. The seat-belt alert mechanism is also activated,
 tightening around the driver to gain immediate attention.
     This concept car was developed as an exploratory platform to showcase
 breakthrough technologies that could potentially be applied in future
 production cars, part of an ongoing program from Nissan contributing
 towards preventing drunk-driving.
     Nissan has already launched and is developing several initiatives to
 help prevent drunk-driving. In June, the company introduced the
 "drunk-driving" message alert on its navigation system. In July, Nissan
 also began testing of a new on-board breathalyzer system in cooperation
 with several local government authorities in Japan, where an interlock
 mechanism will immobilize the vehicle if the driver's breath indicates the
 presence of alcohol above a specified level.
     Nissan is taking a holistic approach towards safety that extends beyond
 the technology built into its vehicles. To achieve a "safe driving
 environment," Nissan has embarked on the Intelligent Transport System
 Project (ITS) in Kanagawa Prefecture - aimed at helping to reduce road
 accidents via the analysis of traffic data collected from on-the-road
 vehicles and traffic beacons. In Japan, the company's safety vision is to
 halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan
 vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.
 
 

SOURCE Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.