Magna Develops New Car Tech to Combat Drunk-Driving

Accidents or cases related to drunk-driving are on the rise in recent times (Photo credit: Blass Law)

Road accidents and deaths related to drunk-driving have become more common nowadays, and many car brands and their technology suppliers have tried their best to come out with new innovations to combat this heinous crime.

One of which is Canadian-based car tech firm Magna International, which showcased its latest anti-drunk driving technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 earlier this month. This new tech features built-in breath sensors and cameras that work in tandem to determine whether the driver is intoxicated or not.

Magna International's new anti-drunk driving tech will feature built-in infrared sensors and cameras

The cameras will record the driver’s face and follow their eye movements to detect any distractions, drowsiness, and intoxication. Meanwhile, the breath sensors, featuring a couple of infrared sensors, can measure the alcohol and carbon dioxide levels in the driver’s breath. Both setups will combine and subsequently do the calculations to determine if the driver’s blood-alcohol level is within the legal limit or not.

Should the driver’s blood-alcohol level surpass the legal limit, the whole system will prompt the car to shut down and prevent drivers from restarting them, eventually taking them off the road or from continuing to drive.

Additionally, this system can detect blood-alcohol levels at up to 0.08 rate, which is also the highest legal rate in the US. Should other countries require higher or lower levels, Magna says this limit can be recalibrated according to the countries’ maximum legal limit.

Besides its CES 2024 debut, Magna has yet to announce when we can expect to see this new anti-drunk driving technology make its debut in a production car.

Drunk-driving cases have grown into an endemic in Malaysia

In Malaysia, we have seen a surge in drunk-driving cases in recent times, with more parties and organisations demanding a better solution to this growing endemic, as well as harsher punishments for the convicted. Should this new anti-drunk driving technology be introduced in our market, perhaps this could serve as a good solution to combat and reduce this crime.

As for the current punishments for drunk-driving-related offences, the recently amended Section 45A of the Road Transport Act (RTA) 1987 dictates that any person who is found driving a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or exceeding the legal limit of alcohol level in their body shall be punished with a fine between RM10,000 and RM30,000 and imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years. Additionally, Section 45 of the RTA also says that those who fail to provide samples of their alcohol level can have their driving licence suspended for a minimum of two years.