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Toyota Developing Alcohol Detection Gadgets That Could Prevent Accidents

By: Robert Reeves

This is one gadget that California drunk driving accident lawyers will be very happy to see.

Toyota Motor announced this week that it was in process of developing an anti-drunk driving gadget that would prevent motorists from starting the vehicle, if the driver is intoxicated. The gadget includes a compact handheld breathalyzer that comes equipped with a digital camera. The breathalyzer detects the amount of alcohol consumed by the motorist, while the digital camera takes a photograph of the motorist for identification purposes. If the gadget detects high levels of alcohol on the motorist's breath, then it either warns the motorist, or locks the vehicle's ignition system. The action taken by the device will depend on the level of alcohol detected by the gadget.

Toyota is conducting tests of the gadget with truck maker Hino Motors. The equipment will be installed in a few trucks and other vehicles belonging to government organizations and other companies. The gadget will help fleet owners become aware when a driver is detected with high alcohol levels on their breath. Toyota is not the only company experimenting with such anti-drunk driving gadgets. Nissan Motor is currently developing a similar gadget.

Nationwide efforts by law enforcement agencies and awareness and education programs have been responsible for a decline in the number of fatalities in drunk driving accidents. Over the past decade, we have seen a continuous decline in the number of people killed in such accidents. California has been at the forefront of laws against drunk driving. Our state has some of the strongest laws against impaired driving, and this has helped bring down the DUI fatality rate somewhat.

Besides license suspension and fines for drunk driving, California along with some other states may require a motorist who is convicted of drunk driving to have ignition interlock systems installed in their vehicles. This device works similar to the device that Toyota is developing. The ignition interlock system detects the presence of alcohol on a motorist's breath, and prevents the driver from starting the ignition if it detects high levels of alcohol on the breath, thereby preventing them from driving and posing a danger to other motorists on the road. This law was designed in response to the high number of drunk driving accidents that were caused by repeat offenders. Too many drivers are able to continue their reckless impaired driving even after having their license suspended or fined for a first offense.

California laws also require persons who are applying for a license or those applying for a renewal of their license, to sign an acknowledgement, accepting that they are aware that if they cause a fatal accident while driving intoxicated, they may have murder charges filed against them.

Toyota's version of an ignition interlock system could prove useful for responsible drivers who want to know if they are able to drive after a few drinks, without being a danger to other motorists.

Article Source: http://www.newarticledaily.com

The Reeves Law Group is a California law firm dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. For a free consultation on a personal injury matter, call us at (800) 644-8000 or visit www.robertreeveslaw.com/CM/Custom/riversidelawyer.asp.

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