Reducing Impaired-Driving Recidivism Using Advanced Vehicle-Based Alcohol Detection Systems: A Report to Congress

Vehicle-based alcohol detection systems use technologies designed to detect the presence of alcohol in a driver. Technology suitable for use in all vehicles that will detect an impaired driver faces many challenges including public acceptability, passive operation (not requiring the active cooperation of the driver), invulnerability to circumvention and tampering, the ability to verify that the test was performed on the driver, and the capability to perform accurately and reliably throughout the life of the vehicle without excessive requirements for maintenance. Several alcohol detection technologies were reviewed in the report: Breath sample analysis, tissue spectroscopy, transdermal perspiration measurement, eye movements, detecting alcohol vapor in the vehicle, driver and driving performance measurement. Technology for use with impaired-driving offenders (i.e., breath alcohol ignition interlock systems) is currently in use, and is practical, accurate, reliable, and relatively low-cost. The report offers suggestions for potential next steps including increasing the use of breath alcohol ignition interlocks among DWI offenders and continuing research and development on tissue spectroscopy and other transparent and non-invasive methods of measuring alcohol in drivers.