By: Alexis Economy
Soon it may be mechanically and physically impossible to drive while drunk, at least in Europe.
Many leading car manufacturers are conducting tests and research in Europe and Asia with new technological devices that will not allow a car engine to start if the driver has had more than the legal limit to drink.
While this is good news for Europe and Asia, the big question is when will this device make its debut in the U.S.?
The answer to that question is not anytime soon.
According to Brian Buffington, Sales Manager of Volvo of Athens, the Alcoguard is not something that Americans are interested in or receptive to.
“The American public has not bought into the product, so I don’t think we are looking to bring it to the U.S. just yet,” said Buffington.
Despite the consensus of the American people, students at the University of Georgia seem to be more receptive to the idea.
Paul Brieske, a freshman and history major from Stone Mountain, Ga. said that he would definitely use the device.
“Well, I don’t have a car right now, but yeah if I could I would get one so that I can tell whether I was safe to drive or not,” says Brieskse.
Cortney Dodson a senior and nutrition science major from Carrollton, Ga. agrees with Brieske.
“I would definitely do it. It makes a lot of sense and it keeps people who shouldn't be driving off of the roads. It benefits not only the actual driver, but also everyone else who could potentially be driving at that time” said Dodson, when asked if she would add the device to her car.
While there is enthusiasm amongst students about the device, University of Georgia police Chief Jimmy Williamson does not think that Alcoguard is necessary. Despite the fact that 520 out of 600 alcohol and drug related offenses reported were alcohol related, according to the UGA police Web site.
“I’m not real big on implementing these devices. Most of our DUI and alcohol-related offenses could be dealt with if people just changed their drinking habits. When I talk to students I ask them why they have to get wasted every time they go out. If they could just change that mentality then we would not have problems, said Williamson”
Chief Williamson also said that the DUI rate has decreased significantly in recent years and has hit a plateau. He credits this to risk takers. “Laws are for law abiding citizens, they set the social standards. However you are always going to have those risk-takers who do not think that the law applies to them."
Regardless of differing opinions on the matter, Swedish-based Volvo exclusively offers the Alcoguard as a feature on cars mainly in Sweden. The company launced the device in 2007, and is expected to release the devices in all of Europe within the next few years, and eventually to the United States.
Alcoguard is handheld and allows drivers to blow in and receive instant results on their blood-alcohol content level.
It is stored in the center console and has a simple color system to notify drivers of the their results.
In Sweden, the legal limit is .02 g/l.
If the driver has results of less than .01 g/l, the engine will start and a green light will appear. For a 150 pound man or a 120 pound woman, this means consuming one beer over a period of one hour.
If the results are close to .02 g/l, the engine will start and a yellow light will appear. However, the driver will be notified that he or she should not drive. For a 150 pound man or 120 pound woman, this means consuming one and a half beers over a period of one hour.
If the results are greater than the legal limit, the engine will not start and a red light will appear. For a 150 pound man or a 120 pound woman, this means consuming two beers or more over a one hour period of time.
The device will also notify the driver if he or she needs to exhale for a longer period of time.
The results are stored for thirty minutes, and then the test must be repeated.
Alcoguard is removable so it does not have to be used on a daily basis or for a quick trip to the grocery store.
According to Volvo's Web site, this device was developed to decrease alcohol-related accidents. As a result, insurance companies are discussing the possibility of a discount on insurance as an incentive to use Alcoguard.
For more information on Alcoguard, contact your local Volvo dealership or log on to the official Volvo website: http://www.volvecars.com/us.
Edited by Dana Hortman and Ashley Bene
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